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.

    11/48 (page 9)
    ed. The following was the condition of the patient. Stomach quiet. Cramps and numbness present. Pulse 84. Respiration natural. Complexion and temperature natural. Tongueclean. Head clear. Pres- sure over region of stomach, and over abdomen gen- erally, gives no pain. The sponge was well saturated. At first the breathing was embarrassed by the vapor, and slight choking was noticed. This however soon passed off, and she inspired the vapor freely. In about a minute she became perfectly still. Her breath- ing was hardly preceptible. Her countenance had the expression of perfect repose. The color was as before inhalation. Her pulse was 96. Breathing slow, but sufficiently deep. Temperature as at first. I asked her to open her eyes. An ineffectual attempt was made, the lids scarcely parting. I asked what were her feelings. She made no answer. The sponge was removed, and she remained in this state some minutes. She now roused up. Said how sick I am! that ether makes me sick. She soon vomited. The ef- fort was very strong, as strong as any previous one, producing much distress, but accompanied by no cramps; only a slight numbuess of the hands. She hardly complained of it. At length the vomiting ceased. The numbness, and all disagreeable sensa- tions, passed away. She had a threatening of retch- ing once afterwards ; but which was only expulsion of flatus. To quiet the stomach, ice in a towel was now applied freely to the epigastrium and left hypochondrium, and with marked comfort. Ice was also urgently demanded to be held in the mouth. It was exceedingly grateful. I left her between 11 and 12 so much relieved that I believed the disease