1. A Look at Anesthesia by Dr. Kasey Clowe 2. None of the early
attempts at medical anesthesia,which involved herbs and plant
extracts, providedthe benefits doctors were looking for without
alsodelivering detrimental consequences. Gasses such as nitrous
oxide were developedand used in the late 18th century for
traumaticsurgery but were not considered strong enough. Further
experimentation led Boston dentistWilliam Thomas Green Morton to
develop a newmethod of anesthesia, using sulfuric ether,
whichproved successful in 1846. Concurrently, Dr. Crawford Long was
developingan anesthetic made of diethyl ether. Longpublished his
findings in 1849. With that, hebecame known as the father of
anesthesiology. 3. While doctors were formerly limited togasses
that numbed the entire body,modern surgeons utilize numerous types
ofanesthesia, the ultimate selectiondepending on the procedure at
hand. Doctors may opt for local anesthesia,which numbs targeted
areas of the body;regional anesthesia, which blocks pain to alarger
portion of the body; or generalanesthesia, which affects the brain
andkeeps you unconscious. 4. About Kasey Clowe Dr. Kasey Clowe is a
member of the IowaMedical Society and theIowa Academy of Family
Physicians.
