November 12: On This Day in World History … briefly
He improved the design of obstetric forceps that to this day are known in obstetric circles as ‘Simpson's Forceps’. His most significant contribution was the introduction of anaesthesia to childbirth.
1847: Demonstration of a new anaesthetic
Eminent obstetrician Sir James Simpson, Professor of Midwifery at the University of Edinburgh, gave the first public demonstration of a new anaesthetic. Its chemical name is trichloromethane – more popularly known as chloroform.
Sir James claimed that it had three times the potency of ether and predicted it would quickly supersede it for long operations and, in particular, for childbirth where its practicality and ease of administration gave it great advantages.
The public trial immediately brought swift and vehement criticism from Scottish Calvinists, who opposed all use of anaesthetics in childbirth, but Sir James was not swayed.
Most notable historic snippets or facts extracted from the book ‘On This Day’ first published in 1992 by Octopus Publishing Group Ltd, London, as well as additional supplementary information extracted from Wikipedia.
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