January in Victorian Edinburgh

5^th January 1869

The Scotsman Newspaper has an article on ‘The use of Laughing Gas as an

Anaesthetic’ – ‘In the early part of last year the attention of the medical and

dental professions was recalled to the value of protoxide of nitrogen, more

commonly called laughing-gas, as an anaesthetic agent…..whilst some at

once condemned the use of the agent as dangerous in any case, others

declared that it was calculated to supersede chloroform…….One very

curious illustration of the mode of action of the gas…..In some cases patients

awake with the same idea in the mind that was present when they became

unconscious……one patient who before inhaling apologised for his

nervousness, continued his apologies as he recovered consciousness.’

Many experiments were carried out around this time to find suitable

anesthetics, as without it, operations had to be carried out very quickly to

avoid the patient dying from shock. Anesthetics such as nitrous oxide, ether

and chloroform were tried, in order to enable surgeons to take more time and

care with operations and also carry out more complex procedures.

Edinburgh Obstetrician, James Young Simpson’s experimentation with

chloroform helped to advance the use of anesthetics, and chloroform in

particular, became popular, having been used by Queen Victoria during

childbirth in 1853. Nitrous oxide, although useful, was not considered strong

enough for use in large operations, and became more commonly used in

dental procedures.

6th January 1870

Stealing eight hams resulted in Andrew Dow, residing in the Lawnmarket, appearing

in the Sheriff Court on this date. Dow had broken into the cellar of a grocer in

Fountainbridge, where he had procured the hams. He was sentenced to six months

imprisonment.

8^th January 1869

In The Edinburgh Evening Courant, an article on ‘Poisonous Lotions for the

Hair’ – ‘Nothing is more extraordinary than the irrational credulity of even

educated, intelligent persons, in accepting a tradesman’s puff as a genuine

warranty. When, for instance, will people be warned against the use of

poisonous hair dyes? It can be no secret that white lead is the chief

ingredient in the black dyes now so largely sold….Paralysis, in a more or

less severe form, is the inevitable consequence of applying these lotions to

the hair.’

17th January 1893

A peculiar case of Culpable Homicide was heard in the Sheriff Court on this date.

Mary Dunnigan, who had been attempting to throw a metal watch stand at her

husband, with whom she often quarrelled, missed her husband, and instead struck her

daughter, Alice Dunnigan, with it. Mary Dunnigan took her daughter to the

dispensary for medical assistance and was advised to take her to the Infirmary.

However, she did not and the child only arrived at the Infirmary when she was taken

there by the police. The Sheriff in this case passed a sentence of eight months

imprisonment.

Attack with a Hatchet

In January 1893, a case went to trial involving a man named Patrick Griffin, who was

charged with having killed Edward Wynn with a hatchet and a poker, in the house of

labourer, Martin Moffat in the Lawnmarket. Moffat gave evidence that Griffin came

to the house on the day of the incident and had been told to leave as his company was

not wanted. However, Griffin came back in shortly afterwards, seized a hatchet

which was lying by the side of the fire, struck Moffat with it, and when Wynn tried to

take it from him, Griffin struck him on the head. As Wynn was being escorted

downstairs, Griffin struck him with a poker. The post mortem examination had been

carried out by Dr Littlejohn and Dr Joseph Bell, who found a wound on the scalp

about one inch in length on the left side of the head. The bones of the nose were

fractured and there was a wound on the back of his right hand. Their opinion, as a

result of the examination, was that Wynn died from acute inflammation of the

membranes of the brain, caused by external violence. Dr Littlejohn, giving evidence,

stated that judging from the peculiar indentation of the bone of the skull, some

weapon must have been used, and that the hatchet shown was a likely instrument to

have produced the indentation. Dr Littlejohn also said that in his opinion, if the

wound had been attended to immediately after the injury was inflicted; it was highly

probable that he would have recovered. This was corroborated by Dr Bell. Other

witnesses interviewed said that Griffin had been chased downstairs by three men, who

were somewhat the worse for drink and that Griffin had taken refuge in a

neighbouring house, but was set upon by three men in the close upon leaving this

house. The jury however, found Griffin guilty of Culpable Homicide and he was

sentenced to six months imprisonment.