Difference between revisions of "James Young Simpson's Discovery of Anaesthetic Uses of Chloroform, 1847"

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In 1847, James Young Simpson (1811-1870), Professor of Midwifery at Edinburgh University, discovered the anaesthetic effects of choloform
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In 1847, [[Sir James Young Simpson (1811-1870)|James Young Simpson (1811-1870)]], Professor of [[Midwifery]] at Edinburgh University, discovered the anaesthetic effects of chloroform, and subsequently applied them to relieve labour pains.
  
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Simpson, together with his assistants Matthew Duncan and George Keith, was in the habit of experimenting with chemicals in his dining room to see whether they had any anaesthetic effect. On the evening of 4 November 1847, they tried chloroform, a substance they had previously ignored as unpromising. The immediately effect was elation followed by a sudden loss of consciousness. On coming round the following morning, Simpson knew that he had found a substance that he could use as a general anaesthetic. He repeated the experiment on his niece with the same effect. He began to employ chloroform in childbirth on 8 November 1847 and described its uses in a pamphlet ''Account of a New Anaesthetic Agent''. Within weeks of its appearance, chloroform had almost completely replaced ether as the standard anaesthetic.
  
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Simpson discovered the properties of chloroform during an experiment with friends in which he learnt that it could be used to put one to sleep. Dr Simpson and two of his friends, Drs Keith and Duncan used to sit every evening in Dr Simpson's dining room to try new chemicals to see if they had any anaesthetic effect. On 4 November 1847 they decided to try a ponderous material named chloroform that they had previously ignored. On inhaling the chemical they found that a general mood of cheer and humour had set in. But suddenly all of them collapsed only to regain consciousness the next morning. Simpson knew, as soon as he woke up, that he had found something that could be used as an anaesthetic. They soon had Miss Petrie, Simpson's niece, try it. She fell asleep soon after inhaling it while singing the words, "I am an angel!".[6] There is a prevalent myth that the mother of the first child delivered under chloroform christened her child “Anaesthesia”; the story is retailed in Simpson’s biography as written by his daughter Eve. However, the son of the first baby delivered by chloroform explained that Simpson’s parturient had been one Jane Carstairs, and her child was baptized Wilhelmina. “Anaesthesia” was a nickname Simpson had given the baby.[7]
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It was quite by chance that Simpson happened upon the anaesthetic potential of chloroform. If he and his assistants had taken a higher dose they would most likely have died. If they had taken a lower dose, they would not have lost consciousness.
  
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It was very much by chance that Simpson survived the chloroform dosage he administered to himself. If he had inhaled too much and died, chloroform would have been seen as a dangerous substance, which in fact it is.[8] Conversely, if Simpson had inhaled slightly less it would not have put him to sleep. It was his willingness to explore the possibilities of the substance that set him on the road to a career as a pioneer in the field of medicine.
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[[Category:Events|James Young Simpson's Discovery of Anaesthetic Uses of Chloroform, 1847]][[Category:Incomplete|James Young Simpson's Discovery of Anaesthetic Uses of Chloroform, 1847]]

Latest revision as of 16:37, 30 July 2014

In 1847, James Young Simpson (1811-1870), Professor of Midwifery at Edinburgh University, discovered the anaesthetic effects of chloroform, and subsequently applied them to relieve labour pains.

Simpson, together with his assistants Matthew Duncan and George Keith, was in the habit of experimenting with chemicals in his dining room to see whether they had any anaesthetic effect. On the evening of 4 November 1847, they tried chloroform, a substance they had previously ignored as unpromising. The immediately effect was elation followed by a sudden loss of consciousness. On coming round the following morning, Simpson knew that he had found a substance that he could use as a general anaesthetic. He repeated the experiment on his niece with the same effect. He began to employ chloroform in childbirth on 8 November 1847 and described its uses in a pamphlet Account of a New Anaesthetic Agent. Within weeks of its appearance, chloroform had almost completely replaced ether as the standard anaesthetic.

It was quite by chance that Simpson happened upon the anaesthetic potential of chloroform. If he and his assistants had taken a higher dose they would most likely have died. If they had taken a lower dose, they would not have lost consciousness.

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