Oskar Kreis introduced spinal anesthesia into obstetrical practice in 1900. This form of anesthesia offered several advantages over the use of inhalation agents. It was fast, safe and it could be administered by the obstetrician, thereby obviating the need for additional personnel. Kreis' work stimulated others to explore other types of blocks suitable for obstetrics. It also initiated a debate about the role of the nervous system in the initiation and maintenance of normal labor.
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