On the supposed anaesthetic influence of electricity / by I.N. Loomis.

  • Loomis, I. N.
Date:
[1858?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the supposed anaesthetic influence of electricity / by I.N. Loomis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    It is true, that, in some instances, the severe and peculiar pain of the electric current may so divert the attention of the subject from the pain of extraction, that he may be uncon- cious of the latter, but in our case we enjoyed the benefit of no such diversion. Besides, the pain of a very feeble current of electricity, through a tooth, is more severe, ordinarily, than the extraction of the tooth ivithout the current. Doubtless, were a Dentist, whilst extracting our tooth with one hand, gouging our eye out with the thumb of the other, we should know little of the pain of the former. On this principle alone, can electricity prove anesthetic (?) in extracting teeth. We are aware that committees, appointed by various sci- entific Associations, such as the Franklin Institute at Phil- adelphia, and the American Institute at Baltimore, have reported favorably to the anaesthetic effects of electricity in the extraction of teeth. Dentists, and we believe Dental Associations, have experimented upon various individuals, and have also reported favorably. The committee appointed by the Franklin Institute report as follows, the report dated April 8th, 1858. In regard to the efficacy of the process, the Committee has the following testimony: 1st. 164 teeth were extracted in the presence of the Com- mittee, a report of which cases is herewith submitted. 2nd. Members of the Committee have experimented in- dependently with the apparatus. The report of one mem- ber who has had it in use four weeks and extracted between four and five hundred teeth with it, is also submitted. The Committee is satisfied, from the observation and experiment of its members, that in a large majority of cases of extraction with this apparatus, no pain whatever is felt by the patient. To test the question whether the effect might not be simply mental, the circuit was broken without the patient being aware of it, when the usual pain was experienced; although, in the same patient, and on the same occasion, teeth had been removed, while the current was flowing, without causing pain.