Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-02-01
From the Philadelphia Press.
Nature's AugSthetlr-
ETHER AND CHLoRoFoRM TO BE SUFFER-
SEEDED BY AIR-EFFECT or RAPID
AND DEEP BREATHING IN LEsSENING


ETHER AND CHLoRoFoRM TO BE SUPEI-
SEEDED BY AIR-EFFECT or RAPID
AND DEEP BREATHING IN LEssENING
PAIN.
Medical practice has been greatly re-
iniorced and stripped oi lis terrorS by the
discovery of the anTsthetic powers of
ether and chloroform. In times when
these agents were not known ii WAS the
custom of surgeons. in severe operations.
to produce inSensibility TO pain in the pa
tient by the use of alcohol and opium.
But the ntoNication of these drugs is a
harsh process, and not easily conlrolla-
BILE. Neither are they certain to produce
that relaxed condition of the system re-
qulred In some operations, such as rcduc-
ing dislocations. Ether and chloroiorm
give the operator quick and easily-regu-
lated and safe agents for causing insensi-
bility. But there is in many minds re-
luctance to resort to these agents; in
certain conditions of the heart they are
dangerous, which, OF course, skilful
physician will take the precau;ion 10 an
Iclpate; and again. they destroy the con-
sclouSness of the patient to such an ex-
tent rs TO leave him helpless in the hands
OF his medical attendant Some natures
"Vuid rather suffer than thus lose their
sell-control and the temporary eclipse OF
their mental powers. AnIstheSia, aS we
understand the customary force of the
word, Is that intoxicated condition in
which the loss of consciousness goes with
insensibility to pain. When this loss be-
comes permanent. or is fatal in its results
the patient is asphyNiated, or suifccated.
We use these terms with reference to the
prevalent theory of the physiological eff
iccts of the agents that produce insensi-
bility. Analgesia is that lesser degree OF
inSenSibility which leaves the patient in
possession of his consciousness, while
his sensitivenesS TO outward contact is so
obtunded rs to destroy the impression of
pain. The word, by derivation, means
simply "painlessness, II the practice
of medicine could furnish an agent capa-
BILE OF producing this result. as great a
boon would be conferred on man rs that
OF the use OF ether.
Ii is claimed that analgesia can be pro-
duced to an extent entirely satisfactory
in minor surgical operations, and even in
obstetrical cases, by n process OF uneX
ampled simplicity and safety. As with
the discovery of ether, so with this new
process, the world is indebted to the
acuteness and ability of the dental pro-
fession. As DIR. Morton began to expert
ment with sulphuric ether In relieve the
occupants of his dental chair from pain
under the tedious suffering attendant on
dentistry, so DIR. Bouwill, 4 dentist OF
this city. was led to the discovery oi
the analgesic effects OF breathing in order
to spare his patients pain. 1t is DOW two
years since ID. Bouwill read II paper be-
lore the Franklin Institute. of this city,
which was published in the Pennsylvania
,jOUyndi Of Dentdi SciCnce for February,
1876, entitled Air and Anesthetic.'
The first suggestion of air as an agent
for producing insensiblitv came to DR..
Bonwill from observing the involuntary
inhalation OF patients when he inflicted
upon them any pain. This he turned 10
account by frequently directing his pa
tients TO take a deep, quick breath at the
moment when he was about TO extract
a tooth or touch IN exposed nerve. The
step was easy to connect this phenomenon
with another: that is,with the peculiar
giddness and loss of acute sensibliity
which accompanied rapid breathing.
Everyone has Observed this, but il was
DIR. Bonwill's sagacIty that saw the con
ncciion of these phenomena with those
produced by ether or chloroiorm. Since
the discovery that insen>ibility 10 paiu
could be produced by rapid breathing,
sufficient 10 meet the requirements OF
dentistry, the matter has undergone more
exact experiment and development. The |
subject was treated in the International
Medical Congress of last year. and that |
eminent surgeon, Dr. Adcnwill llewSum, |
of Philadelphia, affirmed that he had |
operated in a case of iistula and in di,ten |
sion of urethra without pain to his pat
tients, owing to the anal@e>ia produced |
by breathing. Di>locations We're reduced |
without ether, and minor surgical opera |
tionS performed without Inconvenience |
Ii is also said that a much less quantity oi |
ether or chlOroiorm Is required to cause |
anasthcsa after the breathing process
has been rcSortcd To. The comfort to |
patients. and especially to females, who |
suffer much mental annoyance ut dread |
OF losing consciousness lin the hands OF |
medical attendants. in being able To per |
ceivo and assist their physician while I'M
dcrgoing operations thus rendered pain.
less, is very great. The safety ot the |
agency is a great commentator of it to
the dentist and phy sician. The process
is the simple one oi rapid breathing con
tinucd from one to three minutes.
The very marked effects of rapid rcspir- |
tion Is beyond all contradiction. Ii causes
gddiueSs, tingliug at the fingers, ohtusc-
ness of the feeling and taste, and, it long |
confined, a Kind ot hclple~>nc-S. As a
medicinal agent lis influence and uses
must hc vcIy great ~ il becomes known
and understood. The terror oi uncou-
seriousness in critical or severe treatment
will be largely gone. In connection with
this process true anT~thetIcS i'll get in
creased power and he used in less uuan-
titles. The dread of the dentists chair
will he largely allaycd Apart from these
professional uses it is something Tor cy-
cry private person To know their sudden
pain neuralgc twingrs, the suffering To
he endured in eases of accident while
waiting for the ply siciam. can be reduced
10y a means so simple and 80 entirely with
in the control of the sufferer Respiratory !
analgcSia is 50 well established now ~ To
press tor full professional and public rec
ognilion, and great will he the obligations
OF humanity TO the diScovercr it the pro-
cess realizes the half Of its promise.