Which case study involving a toenail suggested an issue with chloroform dosage?

• A. John Snow
• B. Hannah Greener
• C. James Young Simpson
• D. Thomas Percival

Answer: (B)

Understanding how dosing of an anesthetic affects safety is what this question probes. The Hannah Greener case showed that a seemingly small dose of chloroform could be deadly for a young, small patient during a routine procedure like removing a toenail. Her death revealed a narrow margin between a dose that produces anesthesia and one that depresses respiration or the heart. It underscored the need to tailor the amount to the patient’s body weight, to administer it slowly, and to monitor breathing carefully, with readiness to resuscitate if needed. This incident helped shift practice toward safer, more controlled use of chloroform in the future.

John Snow is tied to chloroform safety and dosage ideas as part of the broader early history of its use, and James Young Simpson popularized chloroform, but the toenail case specifically linked to Hannah Greener highlighted dosage concerns. Thomas Percival is more associated with medical ethics than with chloroform dosing.