November 1, 1929
Vol. 21, No. 11
The Ether Problem
federal laboratories and inspectors are checking ether and t o the best of their ability rounding up and withdrawing from the market or from use material which has deteriorated in storage. The manufacturers are doing all they can to prevent the spoilage of their ether after it has left their inspectors. It is not our purpose to censure anyone nor to criticize what. has been done. We do consider the problem a pressing one, and wish to emphasize the opportunity for service presented to the chemical profession t o attack it in the belief that sustained effort will bring a solution. In the meantime we particularly urge hospitals to detail a competent chemist to stand guard over their ether supply, not when it is purchased, but when it is about to be used, that impure material may not contribute to the loss of a single life.
NOWING the vigilance exercised generally by the manufacturers of anesthetic ether, it has been something of a shock t o note from time to time the seizures made because of failures to meet the requirements of the United States Pharmacopeia, and to learn that for years patients have developed respiratory complications, and in some instances pneumonia, following surgical operations. Surgeons and anesthetists generally have relied upon the standard brands and trademarks of ether, because of the continuous research conducted by manufacturers striving not only for absolute purity of the product but also for a better understanding of factors important in its preservation. Concurrently, the federal laboratories have kept in the closest touch with the problem, and it has been our privilege to publish data dealing with progress at made in its solution. I n one hospital a chemist particularly well fitted to underHANKS to the radio and the daily press, nearly all who take the tadlk was asked to consider possible causes of postcan either hear or read know the details of the Dearborn operation bronchitis and pneumonia. He raised the quesf; t e where the invention by Edison of the electric incandescent tion of ether purity and was told that it was all right, being of lamp was fittingly celebrated on October 21 as a climax to a standard brand. He nevertheless examined it and found Light’s Golden Jubilee. Many have been touched by the considerable quantities of both peroxide and aldehyde, which unique experience of Mr. Edison. It has been given to very are interdicted by the Pharmacopeia, and both of which few to live to see the revolutionary effect of their inventions render ether unfit for anesthetic purposes. Experiments upon civilization and to know of the resulting vast blessings were undertaken, jointly with a pharmacologist, using the showered upon mankind. oyster as the initial experimental animal since it has the same The President of the United States in his address delivered type of structure as the respiratory tract lined with cilia which a number of sentences which we wish to record in this permaeject foreign bodies upward from the tract. By using cold nent place, because they bespeak a belief in scientific research light through a quartz rod i t was possible to study the effert and express opinions which will have great weight with those of ether upon the ciliary action in the oyster. It was found who may not be fully converted to the belief that scientific that, whereas pure ether was without effect upon movement, research wisely directed and adequately supported on care0.001 per cent of acetaldehyde would entirely stop ciliary fully chosen projects is the most productive employment of action. Unfortunately, ether is not a stable product. Some oxidation takes place, in part perhaps as a result of contact our time. We quote the following sentences: I n making this, as in his other great inventions, Mr. Edison with the catalytic system of metal, water, oxygen, and ether. This has led to many efforts on the part of manufacturers to gave an outstanding illustration of the value of the modern and system of invention, by which highly equipped, provide better containers. Carbon dioxide has been used to method definitely organized laboratory research transforms the raw expel the air; copper-plated cans and various other types of material of scientific knowledge into new tools for the hand of containers or chemical treatment of such containers have been man. In earlier times mechanical invention had been the infrequent introduced in an effort to improve ether preservation. In five haphazard product of genius in the woodshed. But science European countries the law requires anesthetic ether to be and had become too sophisticated a being to be wooed in such surpacked in amber glass, in which some claim it will remain in a roundings. Nowadays a thousand applied-science laboratories, state of purity for a long time. If it can be demonstrated supported by industries of our country, yearly produce a host of that the packaging of ether in this manner will prevent de- new inventions. * * I terioration for B measurable length of time so that dates would I may emphasize that both scientific discovery and its practical afford rerasonable protection, it would be worth many times application are the products of long and arduous research. Disthe ad&t.iionel cost and any inconvenience in transportation covery and invention do not spring full grown from the brains which might be involved. The effort to provide antioxidants of men. The labor of a host of men, great laboratories, long, scientific experiment build up the structure of knowledge, should go forward and, should this prove the solution, our patient, not stone by stone, but particle by particle. This adding of fact surgeons would soon become educated to the use of permissible to fact some days brings forth a revolutionary discovery, an presematires, although now they object to color and to the illuminating hypothesis, a great generalization, or a practical presence of residual matter when the ether has evaporated. invention. Research, both in pure science and in its application to the I6 a h d d be emphasized that reputable manufacturers are arts, is one of the most potent impulses to progress. For it is honestly trying to prevent other than the best material reach- organized research that gives daily improvement in machines and ing the operating rooms. It must also be said that the processes, in methods of agriculture, in the protection of health,
President Hoover
Dearborn
