Bodlock hastily explained, "Your Highness, excessive Ether inhalation can easily cause weak uterine contractions, even leave the mother unconscious. Both are extremely dangerous during childbirth. Therefore, unless the mother is in such pain that she cannot endure it, it is best not to use anesthesia."
What he did not say was that Ether was flammable and explosive. There had already been two fires caused by Ether, so doctors tried not to use it whenever possible. Joseph narrowed his eyes. "How do you determine whether the mother can endure it?"
Bodlock replied as though it were only natural, "Usually by listening to her cries, observing how much she sweats, and looking at her face..."
Joseph frowned. "So, it depends on experience?"
He had originally wanted to say "guesswork," but in order to spare this French master of obstetrics some face, he changed it to "experience."
"Indeed, Your Highness."
"You also mentioned that excessive Ether inhalation is dangerous. Then how is the dosage controlled?"
"My method is to first let the mother inhale a small amount, observe her reaction, then increase it slightly and observe again, until her acute pain response is noticeably reduced."
Joseph sighed inwardly. This was basically still guesswork.
He then recalled that, in later generations, anesthesia was an extremely complex field. During an operation, an anesthetist was every bit as important as the chief surgeon.
He looked toward the director of the Medical and Health Bureau. "Mr. Covisat, methods of anesthesia and drug dosages must undergo extensive testing, and detailed operating standards must be established.
"Furthermore, anesthetist programs must be opened at all major Medical Academies. In the future, anesthesia procedures are to be handled by them."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Joseph then instructed Covisat to combine anesthesia with techniques such as suturing and develop more surgical applications.
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