Halothane

In 1954 Beecher and Todd2 published an article in which they presented evidence that muscle relaxants increased mortality. This article and a few well‐placed speeches about the substance of the article precipitated a tremendous emotional reaction to the well‐established use of muscle relaxants. Anesthetists and surgeons alike, with somewhat more response from the latter, banned the use of muscle relaxants until more sober and more scientific reflection took place. (It is possible, also, that surgeons accustomed to profound muscle relaxation were so inconvenienced by the ban that reconsideration of the hazards of muscle relaxants was accelerated. ) Although there was a high level of correlation between morbidity and mortality in patients and the administration of muscle relaxants, there were many other factors that could have contributed to morbidity and mortality. Although the article and speeches created a reaction out of proportion to the hazard that existed and Received for publication March 12, 1964. although it is possible to question the validity of some of the data incriminating the muscle relaxants, there is no doubt that misuse of muscle relaxants was taking place and contributing to morbidity and mortality. The remedy applied was more vigorous than required by the disorder, but it did serve to compel users of muscle relaxants to re‐evaluate their practice with the drugs, and undoubtedly more patients were subjected to less hazard not because the drugs became safer but because they were better applied.