Electroanesthesia

/ɪˌlɛktroʊænɪsˈθiːʒə/ noun

Definition

A historical medical technique using electrical current to numb pain or induce unconsciousness.

Etymology

Combining electro- and anesthesia (from Greek 'an-' without and 'aisthanesthai' to perceive). Emerged in the 19th century when doctors experimented with electricity's effects on nerves.

Kelly Says

Before modern anesthetics, doctors actually tried zapping patients with electricity to numb them for surgery—it sometimes worked, but was unpredictable and terrifying, so it was thankfully abandoned for safer chemical anesthetics.

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