ANAESTHETICS
There are chemicals with sleep-inducing properties. One of the first to be used was ether, C2H5OC2H5, in 1846.
Prior to that date, surgery was a very risky and painful experience. The surgeon had to be very quick in doing the operation and often the patient died from shock!
Laughing gas, nitrogen (I) oxide, N2O was another early anaesthetic, but perhaps the well known of all was chlorofoam, CHCl3. This was first used by Sir James Simpson in 1847.
He used it on women at childbirth. This met with great opposition from various religious groups. However, in 1853, Queen Victoria used it at the birth of Prince Leopold. Since then there has been little religious objection!
Nowadays, other halogenated hydrocarbons are used. Chlorofoam itself is too toxic. Ether is too flammable and dangerous, while laughing gas does not produce a deep sleep.
More substituted hydrocarbons become more inflammable and have more anaesthetic effect. However, the disadvantage is more toxic.
The solution is to use a halogenated ethane molecule!
The most common anaesthetic in operation theatres is
1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloro-2-bromoethane.
It is more commonly known as fluoethane.
