Queen Victoria wanted to have lots of children, hoping that her offspring would come to dominate the courts of Europe. But at the same time, she hated having to endure the pain of childbirth. For the impending birth of her eighth child, Victoria made a bold and controversial decision—she allowed herself to be anesthetized with chloroform. The queen faced widespread criticism for her decision from physicians who felt the use of anesthesia in childbirth was too dangerous, and from clergy who said that reducing a woman’s pain during childbirth was unbiblical. But, being the queen, Victoria was free to ignore the criticism. So, when her son Leopold made his royal entry into the world, Queen Victoria was blissfully unconscious. She was so pleased with the effect of the chloroform that she had it administered again in 1857 for the birth of her daughter Beatrice, the queen’s ninth and final child. Queen Victoria gave birth to Prince Leopold on April 7, 1853. Following the queen’s lead, the women of the British aristocracy, and later women of all social classes, began asking for chloroform during childbirth. The photo is Queen Victoria and 9-year-old Prince Leopold. Because he suffered from hemophilia and epilepsy, Leopold had a difficult childhood. Nevertheless, he grew up to marry a German princess, only to die at age 31 after falling down a flight of stairs in Cannes, just prior to the birth of his son Charles Edward, who went on to become a Nazi general.
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
canisgallicus 