A Handy Anesthetic

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 9, 1879

A Handy Anesthetic.

Forced respiration has recently been recommended as a very efficient means of securing freedom from pain during slight surgical operations. An English surgeon has made use of this means to a very considerable extent. In the following paragraph a gentleman described the mode of applying the remedy as well as its application for the relief of toothache:—

"Several evenings since I was attacked with a severe dental neuralgia. After resorting to friction, cold and hot applications, etc., without obtaining any relief, I lay upon my bed trusting that sleep might come and give me respite. Still the excruciating pain continued, and while I was suffering the 'tortures of the doubly damned,' undecided whether to arouse some tired druggist for a bottle of chloroform or chop my head off (with a decided preference, however, for the chloroform), I suddenly bethought me of what I had read in the anesthetic book we always carry with us. Thereupon I began to inflate my lungs to their utmost capacity, and then forcibly blew out all the air I could. Immediately the pain began to lessen, and after a few repetitions of the process it had entirely ceased, being displaced by a delightful tickling sensation in the gums. Furthermore I know not; for in less time than it takes to tell it I was sound asleep, awakening next morning delightfully refreshed and without any symptom of ailment left. Hence, you see, I was not simply temporarily relieved but entirely well again. I wish other sufferers would try this, and report results."