/oss/taxonomy/term/1225/all en /oss/article/medical-history/anesthesia-la-reine <p>Queen Victoria was the first monarch to give birth to a child under anesthesia. Prince Leopold, the Queen’s eighth child, was born in 1853 after her physician Dr. John Snow had administered chloroform by holding a handkerchief saturated with the chemical over the royal mouth. The results were so satisfactory that the Queen asked for chloroform for her next delivery as well, after which the chemical came to be known in Britain as “anesthesia a la Reine.”</p> Wed, 21 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz Phd 9238 at /oss /oss/article/health-history-science-science-everywhere/joe-schwarcz-james-simpson-chloroform-pioneer-took-pain-away <p>The experiment, James Simpson decided, would go ahead even though the rabbits had died. And that decision was destined to have such a huge impact on medicine that more than 100,000 grateful Scots lined the streets of Edinburgh in 1870 to pay their respects as Simpson’s funeral cortège passed by. Many had undergone surgery or had given birth to children painlessly thanks to Simpson’s great discovery: chloroform.</p> Sat, 05 Oct 2013 16:17:51 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2018 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-health-history/anesthesia <p>In 1853 the Queen’s personal physician, Dr. John Snow dripped an ounce of chloroform on a handkerchief which was then held next to the royal mouth as Prince Leopold was delivered.  Her Majesty was very happy with the experience and endorsed the use of chloroform.  Many women followed suit, sometimes even naming their newborn children “Anesthesia.”</p> Mon, 09 Jan 2017 21:44:46 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2365 at /oss