ode of cheating pain put in practice by a master of chirurgery, on our
own side of the Atlantic. In the theatre of University College Hospital,
Mr. Liston amputated the thigh of a man, previously narcotized by the
inhalation of ether vapour. Shortly after being placed on the operating
table, the patient began to inhale, and became apparently insensible in
the course of two or three minutes. The operation was then commenced,
and the limb was removed in, what seemed to us, a marvellously short
time--certainly less than a minute; the patient remaining during the
incisions and the tying of the arteries, perfectly still and motionless.
While the vessels were being secured, on being spoken to, he roused up
partially (still showing no signs of pain), and answered questions put to
him, in a slow, drowsy manner. He declared to us that at no part of the
operation had he felt pain, though he seemed to be partially conscious;
he had heard some words, and felt that something was being done to his
limb. He was not aware, till told, that the limb was off; and, when he
knew it, expressed great gratification at having been saved from pain.
The man seemed quite awake when removed from the operating room, and
continued so. Everything has since proceeded as usual, and very
favourably.

"Mr. Liston afterwards performed one of the minor--but most painful
operations of surgery--the partial removal of the nail, in _onychia_, on
a man similarly narcotised, and with precisely the same result. The
patient seemed to feel no pain; and, upon rousing up, after the
operation, declared that he had felt none."

_Punch_ found another and more domestic use for this anaesthetic.

Patient: "This is really most delightful--a most beautiful dream."

[Picture: Wonderful effects of Ether in a case of a scolding wife]

Not only was there advance in medicine, but, also, in social
science--people began to think that the condition of the working classes
might be ameliorated by giving them better dwellings. As yet, little or
nothing had been done, in this way, in London, but a grand opportunity
occurred at Liverpool, in the building of Birkenhead, and an extensive
range of model dwellings were erected, four-storied, with ornate
exterior, the rents varying from 3s. to 5s. per set of rooms, according
to position; but this included a constant supply of water, and the use of
one gas burner in each set of rooms, and all rates and taxes; with,
moreover, tw