| Description Of Item | Journal article on the use of ether as anaesthesia from the collection of Thomas Laycock. Details how experiments with its use have taken place in Massachusetts General Hospital and perhaps more in private practices. Details symptoms of inhaling ether: agitation of the system, violent coughing, determination of blood to the brain and eyes, dilation of the pupils and distortion of the features, general prostration, laborious breathing, anxiety, sighing, groaning, fright, and delirium. Mr [William Thomas Green] Morton is mentioned as one of these experimentalists to use ether as an anaesthesia. A patient of Mr Morton’s is mentioned having taken an injection of ether. Details her pulse jumping from 130 to 70, blood shot eyes, slight frothing of the mouth, and general appearance of epilepsy. After the operation she stated that ‘[she] felt…as if [she] was having a horrid dream’. |