The introduction of local anaesthesia in Australia, January 19, 1885

Medical journals in Australia between 1856 and 1884 were wont to publish many references to forms of local anaesthesia, probably because this form of pain relief was of assistance to lone practitioners in isolated country towns. Some of these methods are described, as is the first use of cocaine by A. S. Gray and J. T. Rudall on January 19, 1885. As in journals elsewhere there followed a spate of articles reporting various aspects of cocaine and its usage, including an abortive attempt to find an alternative agent.