Medicine: Capsules, Apr. 27, 1953

¶ Tested on humans for the first time, trifluoroethyl vinyl ether turned out to be a promising new anesthetic. Product of 15 years research by Dr. John C. Krantz Jr., Johns Hopkins pharmacology professor, the fluorinated ether puts a patient to sleep in 27 seconds (a standard ether takes up to five minutes), has an agreeable odor and a high boiling point that should make it useful in warm climates. Biggest advantage: not readily combustible, it will reduce the danger of disastrous operating-room explosions.

¶ Strong Cobb & Co. of Cleveland announced a new...

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