A treatise on etherization in childbirth : Illustrated by five hundred and eighty one cases / By Walter Channing.

  • Channing, Walter, 1786-1876.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on etherization in childbirth : Illustrated by five hundred and eighty one cases / By Walter Channing. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    357/424 (page 339)
    appear distant, as if gradually receding. When the effect of inhalation commences, the voices of persons present become more and more distant. 8. I have seen no danger; although I did so far apprehend it, as to desist from its further use in one case, where great distress was mani- fested, and convulsive motions of the muscles supervened. 9. Generally a contraction of the uterus, and speedy delivery of the placenta; and a more tranquil state of mind, and more comfortable state of body, than in cases in which etherization was not used. Sometimes, however, on first recovering from its effects, distress is manifested ; but no bad effects afterwards. 10. In all cases, the children have been born alive, and well in all respects, and have continued to thrive. 11. I consider etherization valuable, inasmuch as the strength of the patient is less exhausted, by reason of the voluntary efforts being less, and inasmuch as the muscular and soft parts are relaxed by it; and thereby the last stage of labor expedited. The soreness and lameness of the muscles, consequent on efforts, is much diminished; and the patient is so sensible of the mitigation of suffering, as to ask for and demand it, after a few minutes' use of it. The same remarks will apply to the chloroform, which seems to affect mentally the patient more agreeably, and is less repugnant to the sense of smell and taste, than sulphuric ether. [For whole number of cases by Dr. Homans, 56, see Table First.] From A. L. Peirson, M.D. Salem, Feb. 1, 1848. Aug. 1, 1847. — A lady, between thirty and forty years of age, fell in labor with her first child. Her travail was perfectly normal, but lasted rather more than twenty-four hours. Hers was the first case of midwifery in which ether has been used in this city. She had pre- viously determined upon using it, from the advice of her Boston friends, who had furnished her with your report of the first cases in which you had employed it. When her pains first came on, her friends and neigh- bors, who came to assist her, dissuaded her from the experiment; and she passed a whole night with severe preparatory pains, requiring me to be in the house, and frequently at her bedside, till, in the morning, she was wearied and disconsolate. She now begged for the ether, or any thing to alleviate her sufferings. At the first inhalations from the sponge, she broke out into exclamations, — 0 beautiful! O glorious ! Now I can bear any thing. I feel as if I had had a good night's rest. Send for a full supply of ether (for we had but little). She assured me she