Further observations on chloroform in the practice of midwifery / [Edward William Murphy].

  • Murphy, Edward W. (Edward William), 1802-1877.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Further observations on chloroform in the practice of midwifery / [Edward William Murphy]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a question naturally springs up from it that can only be answered by careful and accurate observation. If the uterus be not paralysed by chloroform, why are the intervals of the pains lengthened, the pains themselves weakened, and the labour sometimes suspended, by it The writer would prefer leaving this question unanswered, because he has no facts from his own experience upon which to found an o])inion; but he would suggest as an important and interesting in¬ quiry—the influence of the mind on the action of the uterus. Every practical accoucheur is aware of the power that the parturient woman has by mere mental effort to hasten or to retard her labour. We are daily witnesses of the manner in which she calls to her aid the whole of the respiratory muscles to assist the action of the uterus ; we have also evidence of the reflex action of those muscles in aiding the uterus irrespective of the will; ^ there are, therefore, many interesting points to inquire into when we examine the independent action of the uterus. Take away the will, and you remove with it, in many cases, straining efforts, constantly and fruitlessly repeated; this condition is changed for one of perfect repose; the intervals of uterine contractions are lengthened,—they seem weaker, or perhaps are suspended until the stimulus of the child excites reflex actions, when they are renewed; this may occur while the patient remains completely soporised, and the patient may be delivered in that state. In another case, the pa¬ tient may struggle to prevent the pain, and her apprehensions alone will often do so; but let her be unconscious of suffering, and the uterus that before was impeded and embarrassed in its action by the will, acts with increased power when this disturbing cause is re¬ moved. Thus may be explained those opposite and apparently con¬ tradictory statements—that chloroform weakens and suspends the action of the uterus, and, on the other hand, that it increases its force. The writer, however, merely throws out these observations to ex¬ plain the views of the subject that appear to him so interesting, rather than with the intention of giving an absolute opinion upon the ques¬ tion itself. Its importance will be appreciated when it is considered in how many instances, as in Dr Shekleton’s case, the removal of the influence of the passions as a disturbing cause, will restore the uterus to its proper order of action, although it may be for a time suspended. In those cases where chloroform is given in moderate doses, so as merely to diminish pain, but not to destroy consciousness, the action of the uterus is not interrupted, the intervals between the pains are not generally lengthened, and if such should happen, it is because the patient sleeps more profoundly between her pains, and is not kept awake by the aching that often lingers after the last pain. In- * The influence of the reflex nervous function on the uterus, and the eflect of chloroform in disturbing it, is at present under examination.