Electrical anaesthesia : comprising a brief history of its discovery, a synopsis of experiments, also full directions for its application in surgical & dental operations / by W.G. Oliver.

  • Oliver, W. G.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Electrical anaesthesia : comprising a brief history of its discovery, a synopsis of experiments, also full directions for its application in surgical & dental operations / by W.G. Oliver. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    8/26
    agent, and suggested that our success was attributable to a peculiar kind of eloquence, which he termed mesmerism; however, he very kindly gave his consent that we should make experiments in surgical cases at the Hospital under his supervision. The following report of cases is believed to be correct in every particular, being made up from memorandums taken at the time they occurred: Buffalo Hospital, Feb. 10, 1858. First operation under the influence of the Electrical Anaesthesia, in presence of the Clinique of the Medical College, Prof. Frank Hamil- ton, Surgeon. Subject: a woman about 25 years of age; swelling of the varicose veins, left leg. A naked copper wire was wound around the leg, just above the knee, about 9 or 10 times. A similar wire was placed around the leg, just above the ankle, and the negative pole attached to them both. A metalic rod was attached to the positive pole, and grasped in both hands of the patient. The circuit being complete the battery was put in motion, and a current passed through the patient, entering at the hands and passing out at the leg, above and below the part to be operated on. The current was very slight at first, and was increased occasionally, which caused the patient to com- plain of pricking and burning sensation where the wires touched the flesh. The current was reduced to a slow, uniform one, and the oper- ation commenced by the Professor passing a needle and ligature thro' the part affected, taking up a piece of flesh about one inch in thickness and two inches through. The ligature was then tied, and the same operation was performed about two inches below the first, and during the operation the patient appeared to suffer considerable pain, but in a few seconds after the ligatures were tied, the pain ceased entirely, and the current was stopped. In a few seconds the patient complained of severe darting pains in the region of the operation, which seemed to increase until they became almost insupportable. A gentle current was then passed through the patient as before, and in 8 or 10 seconds the patient was free from pain. In a few minutes the current was stopped again, and in a few seconds the pains returned, (less violent than before.) The current was again established, and the pain ceased. In about five minutes the current was again stop- ped, and the patient left in the hands of the dresser, free from pain.'' Remarks suggested and recorded at the time: I am unable to say how much relief was afforded by the current in this operation, but owe