My dear Dr. Townley,

I cannot allow the benefits that I have personally received from the application of your valuable discovery in alleviating the pains and anguish in the hour of childbirth to pass unacknowledged. I have delayed writing earlier, being anxious to confirm the lasting benefits conferred at the time. It is now five months since you attended me, and I unhesitatingly affirm that on the three previous occasions of my confinements, I have never been so fully recovered at the end of one month, as I was on the last occasion at the end of a fortnight, as was instanced by the fact, as you know, of my being obliged to closely watch and nurse, night and day, my youngest boy, in a severe and critical illness. Apart from the general and speedy restoration to health and strength, I can safely state that while under the influence of the anodyne, which I applied myself, retaining consciousness the whole period, and when strictly following your directions, experienced no pain whatever, although you are aware the difficulty in my case was increased by being what is termed a cross-birth, and which I feel sure, under the ordinary treatment, would have left me utterly prostrated through severe and protracted suffering.

I willingly, and unsolicited, render you this simple tribute of my sincere and best thanks, that under divine Providence, you have been enabled to introduce so marvellous a relief in the hour of such momentous maternal anxiety and suffering; and I shall be most happy to satisfy any one who may wish for a reference as to the beneficial effects of your wonderful discovery, so far as I have individually experienced it, and readily accord you full liberty to make use of this communication as may be most satisfactory to you; and with best wishes for your continued success,

Believe me,
My dear Dr. Townley,
Yours very truly,
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To Dr. Townley.

13th May, 1862.

Dear Sir,

It is with great pleasure I testify to the wonderful effects of your beautiful method of treatment during the agony of childbirth. Being my first confinement, I was naturally nervous and fearful. I had been suffering great pain more or less for five hours before I sent for you, but had no sooner taken your Inhaler in my hand than all my nervousness, fears, and pain vanished, and for the next six hours that my labour lasted felt perfectly easy. The only pain I felt was when I removed the Inhaler to have it replenished, my great anxiety being to get it back again. I did not in the least lose my consciousness, but was laughing and talking with my mamma and nurse the whole time. When my baby was born, the feeling I experienced was just as if the parts had been india-rubber—a gentle expanding, but not the least pain. I had no after-pains, and there was no inconvenience afterwards, either to myself or child, and I felt perfectly well, and strong enough to get up the next day had I been allowed. Thanking you, dear Sir, for all your care and watchfulness over me during my hour of need,

I remain,
Yours most respectfully,
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