"100 YEARS OF ANAESTHETICS"
SIR,—The article by your medical correspondent on the 1st instant reminded me of a party at Camden Town described in a letter dated January 13, 1848, from my aunt, aged fifteen, to my father, from which the following is an extract:—
"We spent a very pleasant evening on Monday at Mr. Gibsone's, it was Burford's party, he exhibited to us his Electric Telegraph which was very interesting. We then went up stairs to have the Laughing Gas. Fre.' Netherclift took the laughing gas first he fancied he was beating time and kept thumping his leg up and down. Charles took it and laughed for about five minutes without stopping, he thought he was laughing at hearing that man at Ranelagh sing the laughing song. But Mrs. Gibsone was worse than any she continued laughing for nearly a qua-.ter of an hour and quite terrified us although we could not help laughing at her. Mr. G. was obliged to give her something to counteract it for she could not stop. lifter that we had the Chloroform and Ether. Fred and Julia Netherclift and Mrs. G. took it and went fast asleep, we shook them but they could not feel it in the least. We were then all Electrified, I liked the sensation very much. We got home at a quarter past two." Mrs. G. appears to have had great confidence in her husband. She certainly did her best to amuse the children.—I am, Sir, yours truly, 43 Crestway, Roehampton, ROBERT WRIGHT.
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