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.

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    “Those who object to the rriau of chloroform in midwifery as unsafe, seem to forget that it is possible to make a trial of it without producing the ‘full anesthetic effect. I contend, and I know it by personal observation, that an effect very far short of complete anesthesia will give very great relief, by allaying pain, and espe- cially by soothing that nervous excitability which is so distressing to many parturient women. The inhalation of ten or twenty drops of chloroform will often accomplish this; and I do not believe a patient can be found who could not inhale this quantity with perfect safety, especially if the handkerchief or sponge be occasionally removed (for a moment) from the mouth or nostrils, so that atmospheric air alone may be inspired. There can be no doubt, that chloroform, like all other narcotics, can be given in doses that are unquestionably safe, and that these smaller doses may be of great benefit, without giving entire relief, just as opium or any other anodyne may soothe pain, without wholly removing it. Complete insensibility cannot be produced by opium, without giving it in dangerous quantities; and yet no one quantities that are safe, for the purpose of affording partial relief. If we should admit, therefore, for the sake of argument, that chloroform cannot be safely given so as to produce complete anesthesia, there still remains the same reason for pre- scribing it, as leads us to the use of other narcotics, viz. that it can be given with perfect safety, so as to relieve pain, without causing insensibility. Its safety (given in this way) and efficiency being admitted, it unquestionably possesses three most important advantages over opium : — It produces its effects almost instantaneously ; it does not retard, but rather hastens, the progress of the labor; and it causes no ulterior bad resuits. ‘The important practical doctrine which I wish to inculcate is this; that suffi- cient evidence has now been adduced in favor of etherization in midwifery practice — it having been employed in probably two thousand cases, without a single fatal result — to render it the duty of the profession to give it further trial, to experiment with it cautiously and judiciously, in order to see if we cannot finally arrive at general laws and principles, which will enable us to administer it without danger or apprehension.” | ; Rak As T As Page 43, line 34, for met it with, read met Page 216, line 18, for case of, read case for. with it. 9» 272, ,, 18, in a few copies, for given, » 83, 5, 6, for experience, read practice. read were given. >> 99, 5, 26, for attend, read attach. », 330, ,, 26, dele consultation after VII. 99 95) 99 30, after J, insert have. », 363, ,, 32, for effort, read effect. *,* I cheerfully state here, that the Printer, Mr. Joun Wixson, is not responsible for the errors thus noticed and corrected. — W. C.