Sir
James Young Simpson
(1811-1870)
Sir
James Young Simpson was born in Bathgate near Edinburgh. He trained
as an Obstetrician becoming Professor of Midwifery in the University
of Edinburgh. He was the first to use ether in obstetric practice
in the UK on January 19 1847. In his search for a better agent
he experimented together with friends in sniffing various agents,
while seated around the dinner table. He subsequently introduced
chloroform on November 8 1847. He was harshly attacked on moral
rather than theological grounds for its use in relieving the pain
of childbirth and it was not until Dr John Snow administered chloroform
to Queen Victoria for the birth of her eighth child (Prince Leopold)
that the seal of respectability was set on the relief of pain
in childbirth by anaesthetic drugs.
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