• Anesthesiology · Jan 2000

    Biography Historical Article

    John Snow's practice of obstetric anesthesia.

    • D Caton.
    • Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA. caton@anest2.anest.ufl.edu
    • Anesthesiology. 2000 Jan 1;92(1):247-52.

    AbstractThe influence of Queen Victoria on the acceptance of obstetric anesthesia has been overstated, and the role of John Snow has been somewhat overlooked. It was his meticulous, careful approach and his clinical skills that influenced many of his colleagues, Tyler-Smith and Ramsbotham and the Queen's own physicians. The fact that the Queen received anesthesia was a manifestation that the conversion of Snow's colleagues had already taken place. This is not to say that this precipitated a revolution in practice. Medical theory may have changed, but practice did not, and the actual number of women anesthetized for childbirth remained quite low. This, however, was a reflection of economic and logistical problems, too few women were delivered of newborn infants during the care of physicians or in hospitals. Conversely, it is important to recognize that John Snow succeeded in lifting theoretical restrictions on the use of anesthesia.

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    This article appears in the collection: The History of Anesthesia.

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    Queen Victoria writing in her journal, reflecting on the birth of Prince Leopold with chloroform:

    Dr Snow gave that blessed chloroform and the effect was soothing, quieting and delightful beyond measure.

    Daniel Jolley  Daniel Jolley
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    An interesting narrative focusing on John Snow's successful introduction of anesthesia, particularly chloroform, to obstetric practice in the 19th century.

    The paper begins with a brief exploration of why James Young Simpson, arguably the first pioneer of obstetric anesthesia, failed to popularize this new technology when shortly thereafter Snow succeeded.

    Daniel Jolley  Daniel Jolley
     
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