CHLOROFORM: THE QUEST FOR OBLIVION

"Chloroform, discovered in 1831 by three independent researchers - an American, a German and a Frenchman - has had a multitude of roles. This engaging and entertaining book traces the social, medical and criminal history of the drug, from early medical attempts to create oblivion to chloroform's discovery and resultant use and misuse." "Initially viewed with suspicion, chloroform gained immense popularity after it was administered to Queen Victoria during childbirth. Used in the Crimean, Punjab and American Civil wars, it saved thousands of soldiers from suffering extreme surgical ordeals. Chloroform was also used to treat asthma and cholera, as a rather dubious 'cure' for gonorrhoea and as a sweetener in medicines." "Today chloroform is no longer used as an anaesthetic, but has a multitude of uses in industry and medical research, including a role in DNA profiling. A by-product of the chlorination of water, we inhale infinitesimal amounts of chloroform every time we have a shower." "The fascinating story of an extraordinary substance, used and abused since it was first discovered, Chloroform: The Quest for Oblivion includes previously unpublished research and is essential reading for anyone intrigued by true crime or interested in social and medical history."--BOOK JACKET.