Early pain-free days

By Alan Dronsfield, Pete Ellis and Keith Pooley2007-11-01T00:00:00

Source: Science photo library

Towards the latter part of 19th century cocaine provided the lead for chemists to develop effective local anaesthetics for dental surgery

Eye surgery carried particular risks. Unless the patient was deeply anaesthetised, the eye would move on the slightest touch, making surgery difficult. To suppress this reflex required high doses of ether or chloroform which irritated the lungs to the extent that the patient would cough and vomit for 24 hours after the operation. This would raise the pressure in the eye ball so high that the surgeon's fine stitches would tear out, with disastrous consequences.

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