Cases of inhalation of ether in labor.

  • Channing, Walter, 1786-1876.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of inhalation of ether in labor. 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.

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    The pain became so intolerable in the afternoon that she had the tooth removed. This gave no relief. The pain continued through the night and the next day, Monday, July 5 th. Through that whole day the pain continued so that she used up an ounce of laudanum, applying it constantly by means of cotton to the tooth, and to the neighboring parts. At about 11, P. M., the pain suddenly ceased, and she was very soon after seized with vomiting of a most distressing character. The attacks occurred at intervals of from ten to fifteen minutes, and at length had complicated with them severe cramps of the extremities, more es- pecially the hands, which were also numb, and with strong cramps of the abdominal muscles. The suf- fering was so intense that as many as five persons were required to be with, and aid her. I was called in consultation by the family physician about 9, A. M., July 6th. There had been a somewhat longer inter- val from the preceding attack of vomiting when I arrived at the address. But the cramps were very severe, and being so extensive presented a case of great suffering. She vomited while I was present. The effort was violent, but followed only by a little mucus, or a little bitter, and occasionally acid fluid. I pre- scribed the hydrocyanic acid, and left her, to return after making some medical visits. I did so, and took with me ether, and a sponge for its inhalation. I found she had vomited the acid about fifteen minutes before I arrived, and was still suffering from cramp. This was about 10 o'clock, eleven hours from the begin- ning of the disease, during which time she had suf- fered most severely, and had not slept at all. I suggested the use of ether. The physician in attendance acceded to the proposal, and it was inhal-