Rynd was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1801 to James Rynd and his third wife Hester Fleetwood. Rynd attended medical school at Trinity College Dublin, where he was reputed to be a "wayward" student, known for his busy social life and love of fox hunting.[1][2][3]
In a 12 March 1845 article in the Dublin Medical Press, Rynd outlined how he had injected painkillers into a patient with a hypodermic syringe in on 3 June 1844:[6][7]
"Margaret Cox, aetat. 59, of spare habit, was admitted into hospital, May 18, 1844, complaining of acute pain over the entire of left side of face, particularly in the supraorbital region, shooting into the eye, along the branches of the portio dura in the cheek, along the gums of both upper and lower jaw, much increased in this situation by shutting the mouth and pressing her teeth close together, and occasionally darting to the opposite side of the face and to the top and back of her head.
On the 3rd of June a solution of fifteen grains of acetate of morphia, dissolved in one drachm of creosote, was introduced to the supra-orbital nerve, and along the course of the temporal,malar, and buccal nerves, by four punctures of an instrument made for the purpose. In the space of a minute all pain (except that caused by the operation, which was very slight) had ceased, and she slept better that night than she had for months. After the interval of a week she had slight return of pain in the gums of both upper and under jaw. The fluid was again introduced by two punctures made in the gum of each jaw, and the pain disappeared. After this the pain did not recur, and she was detained in hospital for some weeks, during which time her health improved, her sleep was restored, and she became quite a happy looking person. She left the hospital on the 1st of August in high spirits, and promised to return if she ever felt the slightest pain again. We conclude she continues well, for we have not heard from her since."
This was the first known hypodermic injection.[2][8][9]
Personal life and family
Francis married Elizabeth Alley, daughter of Alderman John Alley who served as Lord Mayor of Dublin, and had three sons and daughters. Rynd named one of his sons Philip Crampton Rynd after his mentor Sir Philip Crampton.
^"Francis Rynd". Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science. 33. Fannin and Company: 254. 1862.
^Rynd F: Neuralgia - introduction of fluid to the nerve. Dublin Med Press. 13:167-168, 1845.
^Huth, Edward J.; Murray, T. J., eds. (2006). Medicine in Quotations: Views of Health and Disease Through the Ages (2nd ed.). American College of Physic. p. 130.