Foreword and Commentary

Abstract

This seems a particularly good point in the century to produce this work, for enough time has elapsed since their introduction to assure a meaningful body of knowledge about these drugs. Furthermore, the outburst of chemical discovery which permitted their synthesis seems to have slackened and only occasionally do new variations on the multihalogenated compounds appear. Unless a new drug of this class has unexpectedly great advantages over those now available, it is unlikely that the many hurdles will ever be cleared to put the drug in the hands of such anesthesiologists as might want it. Thus, this volume, hopefully, will be both a documentation of the past and a take-off point for a different future.