History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Obstetrics mid Gynecology 225exhaustion, hyperplasia with or without deformity, sterility due to nonretainingpower or acid secretions. He also claimed that the operationshould be used in all persons who displayed a disposition to cancer.1880-1890About 1880 again the use of anesthesia in obstetrical cases claimed theattention of the medical profession and several papers were read and discussedbefore the annual meetings of the State Medical Society on thissubject. Strangely enough the same divergence of opinion prevailed thenas is noted now among members of the profession. They tried various drugsand combinations of drugs in an attempt to hit upon an ideal mixturewhich would nullify the pain of labor without interference of its orderlyprogress. Then, as now, some men claimed that deliveries were evenhastened by the use of anesthetics. However, deep anesthesia except fordifficult operative deliveries was never used. Chloroform seems to havebeen the most popular, and was used with equal parts of ether or with alittle alcohol (1 to 5 of the mixture). Chloral hydrate was used per rectumwith or without ether. Ethyl bromide was also used, although considereddangerous by some. The danger to the child from the use of anesthesia inthe mother was considered, but not much evidence of harm was adduced,probably because deep anesthesia was rarely used.In 1879, Dr. David Booth of Sparta declared before the State Societythat anesthesia should not be used for the following reasons: (1) it promotesvomiting; (2) changes spontaneous labor into forceps cases by promotinginertia and preventing the patient from aiding with the expulsionof the baby. He felt that the patient should be responsive to trauma duringforceps delivery and said that involution was retarded by anesthesia. 13In 1880, Dr. E. L. Herriott of Jacksonville also reported on the status ofanesthesia in obstetrics. He wrote to 200 members of the Illinois StateMedical Society, asking for a report on their individual experiences; 17used anesthesia quite frequently when indicated; 12 reported limited useonly; 3 had no reason to use it, and 2 were opposed to its use. Dr. Herriotthimself advocated the use of general anesthesia "whenever the pain of laboris so severe that the patient welcomes it without fear of consequences."He felt also that pain was a stimulant and lessened the danger from anesthetics.In his experience there were no deaths from anesthesia. Ether,chloroform and ethyl bromide were used, and at that time the latter wasmore favored by many men. Herriott stated: "My preference is for equal13 In 1953 we find anesthesia is still one of the important causes in maternal mortality.Forceps are more frequently necessary if anesthesia is used, and maternal tissues are oftenbadly damaged because the operator does not realize the force he is using and its effectupon the patient's tissues.