Dealing with pain

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Dealing with pain

Search for an anaesthetic

Before 1800 alcohol and opium had little success in easing pain during operations. After this laughing gas was used in 1844 in density in the USA, but failed to ease all pain and patients remained conscious. Ether was used from 1846 which made the patients totally unconscious and lasted for a long time. However, it could make patients sick afterwards and cough during the operation. It was highly flammable and would be transported in glass bottles. In 1847 the more effective treatment would be used of chloroform as it had few side effects. However, it was difficult to get the right dose and could kill some people because of the effect of their heart. An inhaler helped to regulate the dosage. Also, cocaine was used as the first local anesthetic in 1884. In 1905 a less addictive version - Novocaine - was used as a general anesthetic.

Opposition to anesthetics

People were worried about the long term effects of using them. Some doctors thought making patients unconscious meant they were more likely to die. Chloroform use resulted in more complex operations which led to better operation on blood loss and infection. The number of resulting deaths scared people. Also, the Victorians were very religious and thought that God inflicted pain for a reason, so it was wrong to interfere.

James Simpson

Simpson was the first man to be knighted for his services to medicine. He looked for solutions to pain during surgery. He discovered chloroform, then wrote articles and gave them lectures to promote its use for surgery and childbirth.

Before anesthetics

Surgery was extremely painful and many patients died from shock.

Surgeons worked fast to minimize pain and blood loss.

Patients had to be held down, which made it difficult for surgeons.

Most operations were amputations or close to the surface of the body.

Impact of anesthetics

Surgery become pain free.

Surgeons could take more time.

Patients did not struggle so it was easier for surgeons.

Deeper surgery was possible, increasing the risk of infection. This led to the "black period" of surgery.