A cyclopaedia of obstetrics, theoretical, practical, historical, biographical, and critical, including the diseases of women and children / [Charles Clay].

  • Charles Clay
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A cyclopaedia of obstetrics, theoretical, practical, historical, biographical, and critical, including the diseases of women and children / [Charles Clay]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/16 page 47
    y^one of the five anaesthetics mentioned in this account are comparable witii chloroform or sulphuric aether, in their manageableness or in their effects, and the after consequences which all of them tend to leave, are too severe and too frequent to admit of their introduction into practice. They are more in¬ teresting logically than therapeutically. OBSTETRIC RETROSPECT FOR APRIL, 1848. Practical Midwifery—Anaesthetic Agents. — We have in another place given a summary of the results of a series of experiments by Professor Simpson on these agents, and therefore direct the attention of the reader to it. Chloroform in Labour.—Wm. Hallum, Esq., gives a case of impaction in the pelvis, in which chloroform was given, which brought the patient in a minute within its influence, and, to his astonishment, uterine action was sus¬ pended, the child was turned and delivered, the patient perfectly unconscious of the operation. [We do not wonder that uterine pains were suspended simply because Mr. Hallum forgot that it was not necessary to put the patient so deeply under its influence for labour as for surgical operations; for, if so, uterine pains of a certainty will be suspended. Why Mr. II. w as necessitated to use the cold douche we cannot conceive—why not leave her alone ? we never see any necessity of either suffocating or drowning our cases after its application, after a little while they awaken of themselves dry and comfort¬ able.—Ed.] Chloroform in Midwifery.—R. Phillips, Esq., at last comes forward j with his views on this important question in the Med. Gazette. From the philosophical mode in which he commences his paper, and its heroic style, w e expected a brilliant result drawn from a wide experience, when, lo ! he brings forward but one case, in which the object was very imperfectly exhibited, and i his conclusions amounting to something less than nothing upon it. Chloroform in Midwifery.—In the Lancet, April 15, a Mr. Ilowey asks if it has been noticed that the odour of chloroform can be detected in the ! breath of the infant for two or three days after birth.—(We should be incli¬ ned to doubt it.—Ed.)—In the same number of the Lancet Mr. Baines gives a long contribution on the application of chloroform; we dislike the spirit in j which the article seems to have been written. As a compilation of facts it is imperfect, and should either have gone farther, or not so far, and the whole i is tinctured with prejudice if not with worse feelings : Professor Simpson need not be under any serious apprehension from the attacks of one of Mr. Barnes s calibre. Puerperal Convulsions treated by Chloroform. Messrs. Clifford, j Fearn, and Wilson, relate cases of the successful exhibition of chloroform. Mr. Clifford’s case after half a minute produced tranquil sleep, and in forty-five minutes, safe delivery,—Med. Times. Mr. Eearn’s case was equally effective, and allowed of safe delivery by the crotchet.—Med. Gazette. In Dr. Wilson s case also the convulsions were allayed and safe delivery effected.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3