The effect of chloroform and trichloroethane on the respiration and circulation

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Chloroform and trichloroethane has been occasionally used for not only abuse, suicide and homicide but also for incapacitation of a victim for rape or robbery. To investigate the course of respiration and circulation during chloroform or trichloroethane inhalation, dogs were allowed to breathe highly concentrated chloroform or trichloroethane vapor. In chloroform inhalation, the respiratory movements ceased in 1.0-1.5 min. The BP began to reduce in 10 sec after the chloroform inhalation and the circulatory breakdown occurred with the cessation of respiratory movement. A few animals showed several transient arrhythmia in the beginning of decrease of BP.Some dogs were allowed to breathe concentrated chloroform vapor for 40-50 sec.They recovered, and their reactions to stimuli could not be seen for 10-15 min after the cessation of chloroform inhalation. In trichloroethane inhalation, the course of respiration and circulation was similar to that in chloroform, though in trichloroethane inhalation, it took a little longer time to cause respiratory and circulatory breakdown than in chloroform. These results suggested that the cause of death from inhalation of highly concentrated chloroform or trichloroethane is the direct depression action both on the respiratory center and the heart and that the inhalation of highly concentrated chloroform or trichloroethane vapor with a saturated cloth over the victim's face for 40-50 sec can probably incapacitate a victim for at least 10-15 min.