526. Mothers and doctors are indebted to Dr.—now Sir James—Simpson for the introduction of chloroform, one of the greatest and most valuable discoveries ever conferred on suffering humanity.
527. Sulphuric ether was formerly used to cause insensibility to pain; but it is far inferior to chloroform, and is now, in this country, very seldom employed; while the inhalation of chloroform, especially in cases of hard and of lingering labor, is every day becoming more general, and will do so still more extensively as its value is better understood, and when, in well-selected cases, its comparative freedom from danger is sufficiently appreciated.
528. Chloroform, then, is a great boon in midwifery practice; indeed, we may say with Dr. Kidd,[[96]] that in labor cases “it has proved to be almost a greater boon than in the experimental and gigantic operations of the surgeon.” It may be administered in labor by a medical man with perfect safety. I have given it in numerous instances, and have always been satisfied with the result.
529. The inhalation of chloroform causes either partial or complete unconsciousness, and freedom from pain either for a longer or for a shorter time, according to the will of the operator. In other words, the effects might with perfect safety be continued either for a few minutes, or from time to time for several hours; indeed, if given in proper cases, and by a judicious medical man, with immense benefit.
530. Chloroform is more applicable and useful in a labor—more especially in a first labor—when it is lingering, when the pains are very severe, and when, notwithstanding the pain, it is making but little progress,—then chloroform is a priceless boon.
531. Chloroform, too, is very beneficial when the patient is of a nervous temperament, and when she looks forward with dread and apprehension to each labor pain.
532. It might be asked,—Would you give chloroform in every case of labor, be it ever so easy and quick? Certainly not: it is neither advisable nor expedient, in an ordinary, easy, quick labor, to administer it.
533. The cases in which it is desirable to give chloroform are all lingering, hard, and severe ordinary labors. In such I would gladly use it. But before administering it, I would, as a rule, wait for at least six hours from the commencement of the labor.
534. Oh, the delightful and magical effects of it in the cases here described! the lying-in room, from being in a state of gloom, despondency, and misery, is instantly transformed, by its means, into one of cheerfulness, hope, and happiness!
535. When once a lying-in woman has experienced the good effects of chloroform in assuaging her agony, she importunately, at every recurrence of “the pain,” urges her medical man to give her more! In all her subsequent confinements, having once tasted the good effects of chloroform, she does not dread them. I have frequently heard a lady declare that, now (if her labor be either hard or lingering) she can have chloroform, she looks forward to the period of childbirth with confidence and hope.