Part 2

Having had chloroform three times previously, I can testify that the effects of your treatment are quite different, and infinitely superior; for while in the one case I lost my senses and power of action, under you my senses were as acute as at any time in my life, and my bodily powers the same.

No one can imagine the relief obtained under your process: it must be felt to be believed.

With deep gratitude to God as the first cause of every blessing, and with sincere thanks to yourself for the very great relief you gave me,

Believe me to remain, Dear Sir, Yours respectfully, * * *

To Dr. Townley.

* * * * *

Kennington.

Dear Dr. Townley,

Having been so fortunate as to procure your professional services during my accouchement, and receiving so much benefit thereby, I cannot allow it to pass without expressing my admiration at the skill and success with which you relieved me from all pain, whilst at the same time I remained perfectly sensible.

Before you arrived I was suffering great agony, but you immediately relieved it. The labour went on regularly for nearly five hours without my feeling the _slightest_ particle of pain.

I can conscientiously state that I did not know the child was born till I heard it cry, at the same time being perfectly sensible and able to converse cheerfully with a friend I had with me.

I did not suffer from headache, fever, or any other bad symptom which sometimes follows childbirth.

I consider the process you use in midwifery cases to be, without any exception, the greatest boon which has been, or ever can be, given to woman, and will, I trust, be appreciated as such. I have received the wonderful benefit of it myself, as well as witnessing it in two other cases; one an extremely difficult one, where I am fully convinced that the patient must, in all human probability, have lost her life, had it not been for your beautiful process, whereby she was totally relieved from pain, which must in her case have exhausted nature.

I could add much more in favour of this great boon, but will not trouble you with a tedious letter.

In conclusion, let me offer my sincere thanks to you for devoting your time and talents to the discovery of so wonderful and useful a practice in the most important branch of your profession; and you will, I am sure, be fully repaid by knowing the amount of suffering you have prevented, and, I may also add, the lives you have saved.

You are at liberty to show this letter to any one, or to refer them personally to me.

It is my opinion that too much cannot be said in praise of your beautiful process.

I remain, Dear Dr. Townley, Yours most sincerely, * * *

* * * * *

Stockwell.

My dear Sir,

Allow me to express my gratitude for your kind care and attention to me during my two last confinements, and the great benefit I derived from your mode of relieving the dreadful pains of childbirth.

When consulting you in the year 1859 relative to my approaching confinement, which I very much dreaded, having upon two previous occasions suffered intensely the pains of labour for the space of nearly two days each time, I gladly accepted the proffered relief you offered me, though I was somewhat sceptical it would afford me all the relief you considered it was calculated to convey.

I now beg to state, for the information of any who may never have participated in its inestimable benefit, that both in 1859 and in the last month (March, 1861), I am perfectly convinced it has been under Providence the means of saving my life; that its marvellous effects are such that pain is scarcely felt or known; and while inhaling the vapour there is not the slightest degree of unconsciousness. I was able to converse and give directions with the same ability and readiness of perception as a person in the most perfect health would do; in addition, I may also state, that whereas in my previous labours I had always suffered much pain from distension and soreness afterwards, in the two last there was a total absence of both these inconveniences.

I cannot but express my fervent thankfulness for your skill and watchfulness during my hour of need, and should only be too happy to testify personally to any one expecting to take it, that they need be under no apprehension whatever from ill effects, at the time or afterwards, either to themselves or their infant. So beautiful is it, that I told my nurse, as far as the pain at the time of labour went, I should not mind going through the same every week.

Incredible as these results may appear to those who have never felt nor witnessed your mode of alleviating the pains of labour, the earnest desire of both myself and husband is, that by God's blessing your valuable life may long be spared, and that you may enjoy the happiness and privilege of being, to a constantly-increasing number of ladies, the means of proving that what has hitherto been considered an impossibility can be done--namely, the birth of a child without any pain or any loss of consciousness to the mother throughout the whole of her labour.

I remain, Dear Sir, Yours very sincerely, * * *

Dr. Townley.

* * * * *

Camberwell.

Dear Dr. Townley,

I had great dread of going through my first confinement, and accordingly, when a friend of mine, on whose experience of your aid I could place the greatest reliance, recommended me to try your anodyne treatment, I was very glad to avail myself of your scientific services. I had expected that all you could do would be to relieve me of a little of the usual pain of a confinement, but I can now confidently declare that I did not feel any pain at all during my labour. For I knew very well when every pain was approaching, and by using the Inhaler under your direction, I was enabled to bear the labour without experiencing any pain at all. What I really did feel was an unpleasant sensation of extreme forcing, to which it would be wrong of me to give the name of pain; that sensation is easily accounted for, since it was the opinion of a medical friend who was present, that my child could not be born without the use of the instruments; but I thank God, that with the help of your anodyne, and with your own attentive encouragement, my child was born alive, and without the use of the instruments. On the following day I felt neither pain, nor stiffness, nor discomfort of any kind. With many thanks for your kind attention,

I am, Yours truly, * * *

* * * * *

Vassall Road.

Dear Sir,

It is with mingled feelings of pleasure and gratitude that I take up my pen to testify to the extraordinary results of your wonderful process for alleviating and lessening the pains and perils of childbirth. I have, as you are aware, thrice passed through this ordeal; the first without the aid of your invaluable process, and well do I recollect the agony I then endured; the second time I was induced to submit myself to your new mode of treatment, and although it was a tedious and protracted labour, I passed through it with little or none of the suffering I experienced on the first occasion.

In my third and last confinement I cannot speak too highly of this inestimable boon. I was in great agony on your arrival; but as soon as I used the Inhaler, which I held in my own hand, I felt no more pain. I was perfectly sensible the whole of the time, conversing freely with those in the room. But what I consider most extraordinary was, when you were obliged at the last, owing to the great size of the baby's head, to have recourse to instruments; even at that trying time, I experienced little or no pain or distension, to the utter astonishment and delight of my mother and the nurse, who were present. As to myself, I could hardly believe it possible that my trouble was over. My speedy recovery is well known to you, being enabled to rise from my bed on the fifth day after my confinement, quite strong, and to leave my room within the fortnight, neither myself nor babe ever having since experienced the least unpleasant effects from the astonishing relief afforded.

In conclusion, I beg you to accept the sincere thanks of myself and husband for your great kindness and unremitting attention to me in the hour of need, and trust you may long be spared to witness the marvellous results of your arduous exertions for relieving suffering women.

I remain, Dear Sir, Yours very sincerely, * * *

To Dr. Townley.

* * * * *

18th Feb., 1862.

Dear Sir,

When I was at Clapham last week, I heard that my confinement had been hit upon by some persons (who are much prejudiced against your splendid discovery) as an example of its _failure_; and as I do not think it should be looked upon in that light, I am writing to say you are at liberty to send any one to me, and I will tell them that, although I cannot say (as I _know_ some of your ladies can) that I never felt a pain, yet that the anodyne gave me such relief that I shall be thankful to get the same alleviation another time. You will recollect you found me in great pain, but that instantly subsided when I used the Inhaler as you told me; and for an hour or two, strictly following your directions, I could not believe that the labour was going on, as I felt nothing, though perfectly conscious the whole time. But once allowing the pains to get ahead, I seemed as if I could not listen to you. It being my first confinement, I suppose I was frightened and nervous, consequently, then, not being able to do as you told me, I suffered intensely for a time, but towards the end I must have used the Inhaler better, for I certainly did not feel my _great baby_ being born. You yourself called it a _terrific bout_; but I recovered very rapidly, which must be a proof that I did actually derive much benefit from the anodyne, notwithstanding my having that interval of suffering when I did not use the Inhaler properly, for I walked downstairs to dinner on the fifth day, and was home at three weeks, and thirty miles down in the country three days after. I speak of you and your wonderful discovery whenever I get the opportunity, and sincerely hope I may have your valuable assistance again, if I should be in a condition to need it.

Believe me, Dear Sir, Yours very truly, * * *

To Dr. Townley.

* * * * *

April 12th, 1862.

My dear Dr. Townley,

I cannot allow the benefits that I have personally received from the application of your valuable discovery in alleviating the pains and anguish in the hour of childbirth to pass unacknowledged. I have delayed writing earlier, being anxious to confirm the lasting benefits conferred at the time. It is now five months since you attended me, and I unhesitatingly affirm that on the three previous occasions of my confinements, I have never been so fully recovered at the end of one month, as I was on the last occasion at the end of a fortnight, as was instanced by the fact, as you know, of my being obliged to closely watch and nurse, night and day, my youngest boy, in a severe and critical illness. Apart from the general and speedy restoration to health and strength, I can safely state that while under the influence of the anodyne, which I applied myself, retaining consciousness the whole period, and when strictly following your directions, experienced no pain whatever, although you are aware the difficulty in my case was increased by being what is termed a cross-birth, and which I feel sure, under the ordinary treatment, would have left me utterly prostrated through severe and protracted suffering.

I willingly, and unsolicited, render you this simple tribute of my sincere and best thanks, that under divine Providence, you have been enabled to introduce so marvellous a relief in the hour of such momentous maternal anxiety and suffering; and I shall be most happy to satisfy any one who may wish for a reference as to the beneficial effects of your wonderful discovery, so far as I have individually experienced it, and readily accord you full liberty to make use of this communication as may be most satisfactory to you; and with best wishes for your continued success,

Believe me, My dear Dr. Townley, Yours very truly, * * *

To Dr. Townley.

* * * * *

13th May, 1862.

Dear Sir,

It is with great pleasure I testify to the wonderful effects of your beautiful method of treatment during the agony of childbirth. Being my first confinement, I was naturally nervous and fearful. I had been suffering great pain more or less for five hours before I sent for you, but had no sooner taken your Inhaler in my hand than all my nervousness, fears, and pain vanished, and for the next six hours that my labour lasted felt perfectly easy. The only pain I felt was when I removed the Inhaler to have it replenished, my great anxiety being to get it back again. I did not in the least lose my consciousness, but was laughing and talking with my mamma and nurse the whole time. When my baby was born, the feeling I experienced was just as if the parts had been india-rubber--a gentle expanding, but not the least pain. I had no after-pains, and there was no inconvenience afterwards, either to myself or child, and I felt perfectly well, and strong enough to get up the next day had I been allowed. Thanking you, dear Sir, for all your care and watchfulness over me during my hour of need,

I remain, Yours most respectfully, * * *

To Dr. Townley.

* * * * *

May 15th, 1862.

Dear Sir,

I cannot help expressing on paper, for the benefit of others who might be as incredulous as I was myself, the perfect success of your treatment. In a previous confinement, five years ago, I was obliged, after a most protracted labour and much suffering, to be delivered by instruments. This time, although it was a cross-birth from the time you came, I suffered no pain; and after three hours using the Inhaler under your direction, when you assured me the baby would soon be born, I could not believe it, having no forcing or sensation of any kind. I was perfectly sensible, and able to talk cheerfully with those around me. Though some time under your hands whilst removing the after-birth, which adhered, I had not the slightest pain. In all my previous confinements I had been much troubled afterwards, in consequence of the protracted and forcing nature of my labour, from piles and other inconveniences, none of which I experienced under your care; consequently, I felt better on the second day than I ever had before at the end of a fortnight.

All who have used your Inhaler must be thankful that you have been directed by a gracious God to a means of mitigating such severe suffering.

Believe me, Dear Sir, Yours truly, * * *

* * * * *

May 20th, 1862.

Dear Sir,

With much pleasure I acknowledge the benefit I derived from inhaling your anodyne during my recent confinement.

I confess it was with some fear and reluctance I yielded to the persuasions of two of my friends (who themselves had experienced its benefit) to try it. I could not forget how much I suffered some time since from the use of chloroform administered to me for the extraction of a tooth. On that occasion, after the tooth was out, they were obliged to open the windows and deluge me with cold water. It was an hour and a half before any signs of consciousness returned, and then the ringing in my ears and distress in my head were dreadful. It was a full week before I could bear any light or noise in my room, and even now a little camphorated chloroform for toothache quite upsets me. In taking your anodyne, however, I felt nothing of the kind. I was perfectly conscious all the time, and whilst inhaling it suffered no pain. I have been stronger and better since than in any of my four previous confinements. This time I was dressed and sat up to dinner before baby was five days old, without feeling the slightest inconvenience of any sort, and the earliest time I have sat up to dinner before has been two weeks.

I am sure that ladies who suffer much at these times, or from debility afterwards, will find it a very great boon.

I am, Dear Sir, Yours sincerely, * * *

To Dr. Townley.

THE END.