ABSTRACT
Toxicity to the liver resulting from the ex posure of individuals to the halogenated an esthetics is a side effect that was linked to halogenated anesthetic exposure almost since their use as anesthetics began. Cases of jaundice and death following chloroform administration were reported as early as 1848 (1), and in 1850 it was determined ex perimentally that chloroform could cause biochemical changes in the livers of rats (2). Not until the turn of the century was the seriousness of this side effect fully appre ciated when it was confirmed that chloro form (2,3) and carbon tetrachloride (4), the latter of which was used as an anesthetic for a short period, caused massive liver ne crosis and delayed death in a large number of patients administered these compounds.
