Expert Statement

Expert Statement

Expert: Cho Meng

Expertise:  Hazardous Chemicals

My name is Cho Meng , I study hazardous chemicals and my job is to explain what these chemicals are.  I was informed that on September 4^th a boy passed out due to food tampering with chloroform.  I hope that my expertise can give you insight to what chloroform is really about and answer questions you may have regarding chloroform itself.   Chloroform has been known to be very dangerous in the medical field and in cases like this. The compound chloroform, was discovered by Samuel Guthrie, who was from the United States.  During the 1800’s and into the early 1900’s chloroform was used mainly in the medical field.  The first death that was due to chloroform was in 1848.  Due to this they did a study on animals proving that chloroform can cause cardiac fibrillation.  In the Civil War chloroform was a key component in amputations to reduce pain for the wounded soldiers.  Later in the 1900’s scientists figured out that chloroform was unsafe, so it was then replaced with oxygen-gas mixtures that were safer for the patient.  Though chloroform has decreased in the medical field, it has recently been used as a “date rape drug”.  Mainly because once chloroform is inhaled it can make the victim suddenly pass out.  Thus making it easy for someone to capture their victim.  Though we do not know the intentions that someone had by putting chloroform on a cupcake, we do know that it successfully worked.  Gladly though McHiggins was safe and ok.  Chloroform is not something that should be messed with and all people should stay clear from this chemical as much as possible.

Best regards to the McHiggins boy,

Cho Meng

Expert on Hazardous Chemicals