Numbed by a mistress named Ana

I read a little unsubstantiated anecdote today, that the first baby to be born to a mother under the anaesthesia of chloroform was named just that - "Anaesthesia". It made for a cool story, so I decided to check it out.

Whilst the story itself has turned out to be a myth (the baby in question was actually christened "Wilhelmina"), I found out a few things about early anaesthesiology, specifically ether and chloroform.

Both were problematic, and ether itself was possibly synthesised as early as the 8th century. Although ether has the desired intoxicating, numbing-of-the-senses effect anaesthesiologists desire, it's highly flammable and volatile nature have rendered it little more than a recreational drug.

I always loved the references to chloroform in various episodes of The Simpsons, and it probably wasn't until many years after my initial awareness of the substance (through the cartoon in reference) was backed up by any knowledge of just what it was. Sidenote: I've also learned that the manner in which Homer and other characters use chloroform to incapacitate others is inaccurate. Apparently soaking a rag in chloroform and holding it over ones mouth and nose would not result in an instant loss of consciousness. Instead, this method would require around 5 minutes of constant inhalation. Just in case you had any ideas.

Chloroform appeared in the early 1800's, and was pretty quickly demonstrated to have possess significant medical anaesthetic value. By the mid-1800's, it was even beginning to be used in childbirth - where the story this entire post drew its inspiration appeared. Whilst the first baby born wasn't named Anaesthesia, it's been confirmed that Queen Victoria's seventh child, Prince Leopold, was delivered under a chloroform anaesthetic, later described by Vicky herself as "delightful beyond measure".

Although chloroform didn't represent the same level of explosive danger, a la ether, it quickly developed a dangerous reputation, as inconsistencies with doses began leading to deaths.

All things considered, I think Sigmund Freud had it right when he suggested to Dr Karl Koller to simply administer cocaine as an anaesthetic.

That's what I learned today.