| Organohalogen compounds |
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| We have come a long way since the primitive days of medicine when calling a doctor and undergoing surgery was a last resort, the alternative being certain death. Whilst even today few people relish a trip to hospital, surgery is no longer such a life–threatening or unduly painful experience because of organohalogen compounds. |
| The substitution of a chlorine atom into a molecule of the organic family known as the alkanes results in a compound with anaesthetic properties – trichloromethane (Chloroform) was a clear example. Increasing the number of chlorine atoms in the compound increases the depth of anaesthesia given, but unfortunately also increases the toxicity of the compound. |
| Carbon–fluorine bonds are very stable and so their presence in a compound leads to non–flammable, non–toxic and unreactive properties. Halothane, 2–bromo–2–chloro–1,1,1–trifluoroethane is an effective compound giving deep yet safe anaesthesia. |
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