Camberwell.
Dear Dr. Townley,
I had great dread of going through my first confinement, and accordingly, when a friend of mine, on whose experience of your aid I could place the greatest reliance, recommended me to try your anodyne treatment, I was very glad to avail myself of your scientific services. I had expected that all you could do would be to relieve me of a little of the usual pain of a confinement, but I can now confidently declare that I did not feel any pain at all during my labour. For I knew very well when every pain was approaching, and by using the Inhaler under your direction, I was enabled to bear the labour without experiencing any pain at all. What I really did feel was an unpleasant sensation of extreme forcing, to which it would be wrong of me to give the name of pain; that sensation is easily accounted for, since it was the opinion of a medical friend who was present, that my child could not be born without the use of the instruments; but I thank God, that with the help of your anodyne, and with your own attentive encouragement, my child was born alive, and without the use of the instruments. On the following day I felt neither pain, nor stiffness, nor discomfort of any kind. With many thanks for your kind attention,
Vassall Road.
Dear Sir,
It is with mingled feelings of pleasure and gratitude that I take up my pen to testify to the extraordinary results of your wonderful process for alleviating and lessening the pains and perils of childbirth. I have, as you are aware, thrice passed through this ordeal; the first without the aid of your invaluable process, and well do I recollect the agony I then endured; the second time I was induced to submit myself to your new mode of treatment, and although it was a tedious and protracted labour, I passed through it with little or none of the suffering I experienced on the first occasion.
In my third and last confinement I cannot speak too highly of this inestimable boon. I was in great agony on your arrival; but as soon as I used the Inhaler, which I held in my own hand, I felt no more pain. I was perfectly sensible the whole of the time, conversing freely with those in the room. But what I consider most extraordinary was, when you were obliged at the last, owing to the great size of the baby's head, to have recourse to instruments; even at that trying time, I experienced little or no pain or distension, to the utter astonishment and delight of my mother and the nurse, who were present. As to myself, I could hardly believe it possible that my trouble was over. My speedy recovery is well known to you, being enabled to rise from my bed on the fifth day after my confinement, quite strong, and to leave my room within the fortnight, neither myself nor babe ever having since experienced the least unpleasant effects from the astonishing relief afforded.
In conclusion, I beg you to accept the sincere thanks of myself and husband for your great kindness and unremitting attention to me in the hour of need, and trust you may long be spared to witness the marvellous results of your arduous exertions for relieving suffering women.