1846: Ether demonstrated in USA (Morton). Worked but made patients vomit, was flammable.
1847: Chloroform used by James Simpson in Edinburgh. Queen Victoria used it in childbirth (1853) — made it socially acceptable.
Opposition: Religious groups said pain was "God's will," especially in childbirth. Some doctors worried about dosage (too much = death).
Paradox: Anaesthetics actually INCREASED surgery deaths temporarily — surgeons tried longer, deeper operations they couldn't do before → more infection.
This deep dive covers Anaesthetics — Conquering Pain within The Surgery Revolution for GCSE History. Revise The Surgery Revolution in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 4 of 16 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for The Surgery Revolution
Who introduced chloroform as an anaesthetic in 1847?
What antiseptic did Joseph Lister use in surgery from 1867?
Quick recall flashcards
When did Simpson introduce chloroform?
1847
What did Lister use as an antiseptic?
Carbolic acid spray (from 1867)