with Kid Jensen
Anaesthesia from inhaling 'laughing gas' and ether became general practice by 1847. That same year it was first applied in midwifery and chloroform was found to have anaesthetic properties. Other general anaesthetics are injected with a hypodermic needle, such as scopolamine and morphine, used to produce 'twilight sleep' during childbirth, for example.
The earliest local anaesthetic was cold. Now drugs are most commonly used, particularly cocaine and its derivatives.
Dr Alan Maryon-Davis today talks of anaesthesia and the administration and effects of anaesthetics.
Working for a living can involve you in many complex situations. Alison Rice talks about you and your rights as a worker, and gives advice about such matters as taking time off, having a baby, being dismissed, redundancy, what to do if your employer goes bust and signing on. If you have problems you can always turn to your local employment or social security office or Citizens' Advice Bureau, whose advice is free.