Remarks on the superinduction of anæsthesia in natural and morbid parturition : with cases illustrative of the effects of chloroform in midwifery; and answers to alleged religious objections against the practice / by J.Y. Simpson, M.D.

  • Simpson, James Young, 1811-1870.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the superinduction of anæsthesia in natural and morbid parturition : with cases illustrative of the effects of chloroform in midwifery; and answers to alleged religious objections against the practice / by J.Y. Simpson, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    have, one and all of them, done perhaps hundreds of times; viz. exhibit, by the mouth, opium and other narcotics and hypnotics to their patients, to mitigate pain and superinduce anaesthesia and sleep. There is no greater impropriety or sin in producing sleep and free- dom from pain by exhibiting a medicine by the mouth, than by exhibiting it by the lungs. There is less im- propriety in the latter practice than in the former, even according to the very doctrine of these opponents. For narcotic or anaesthetic agents which are swallowed, are far more prolonged in their insensibilizing action upon both the mind and body than those that are inhaled. The questionable character of the practice (supposing it for a moment to be questionable), must be much less when the effect is short and evanescent, as with ether and chloroform when respired; than when it is long and protracted, as with opium, morphia, hen- bane, &c, when swallowed. The proper anaesthetic state is one physiologically and psychically analogous to natural deep sleep. It is an artificial deep sleep. Those who object and urge that we should never follow ourselves, or induce others to follow, the practice of voluntarily surrendering up our mental consciousness for a time, in order to avoid any corporeal torture or agony that we would otherwise endure during that time, forget how often and how long they and others are in the habit of voluntarily surrendering up their mental consciousness in common sleep, far, far beyond the time required merely for the refreshment and reno- vation of the system. Many thus daily surrender their ■ minds and reason up for unnecessary hours to the state i of unconsciousness existing in common or natural sleep,, without any object except the reprehensible indulgence- of sloth and indolence : and then they turn round, audi declaim against others having induced upon them, at