Anaesthetics Flashcards
What natural drugs were used for a long time before anaesthetics?
Alcohol, opium, mandrake
When was Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) discovered, who by and what was it’s reception?
1799, Humphry Davy - It was disregarded by surgeons at the time
When was nitrous oxide displayed again, who by and what were the results?
1845, Horace Wells - He performed a public demonstration, however his patient was unaffected by nitrous oxide, so it was disregarded
When was ether discovered and who by?
`1842, Cawford Long - this work wasn’t published
When was ether first used and who by?
1846 - William Morton (American Dental Surgeon)
Why was using ether as an anaesthetic risky?
It is an irritant and it is fairly explosive
Who was James Simpson?
A professor of Midwifery at Edinburgh University
What was he looking for and how did he try to achieve this?
He looked for a safe alternative to ether for women during childbirth - he tested chemicals on himself
When did Simpson discover chloroform and how was it better than ether?
1847 - Chloroform was:
easier to use
it took effect quicker
less was required to achieve the same result
When did chloroform become widely renowned?
After Queen Victoria gave birth to her 8th child using chloroform in 1853
