title: The introduction of halothane into clinical practice: the Oxford experience.
abstract: This paper reviews the clinical situation in anaesthesia before the introduction of halothane into clinical practice in 1956, emphasising the limitations of agents available at the time. The background to the development of halogenated hydrocarbon compounds as anaesthesia agents is presented, including the involvement of Imperial Chemical Industries in England. The Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics was involved in the clinical trials and the designing and execution of these. The results of their work and the problems encountered are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000266:history*; D004739:England; D006221:Halothane / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D006221:Halothane