Medical History for Anesthesiologists: Continuation of a Primer

Editor’s note: The absence of a recognized formal curriculum in anesthesia history means that many of us have known and unknown gaps in our knowledge. These gaps limit our ability to understand how things came to be, how things may become and how we can affect the future. I have asked Dr. Manisha Desai and Dr. Sukumar Desai to provide a primer on the history of medicine and anesthesia history. The goals of this primer are to educate and to help individuals target future study. Below is the second article in a continuing series

Alternative Methods to Teach History of Anesthesia

Background: History of Anesthesia [HOA] may be taught through lectures, small group discussions, or by one-on-one teaching. HOA competes for scarce time in a busy didactic schedule and for coverage in mainstream medical journals devoted to anesthesiology. These efforts are hampered by the fact that HOA does not have any direct impact on the delivery of modern anesthesia, and the fact that these topics do not appear in written or oral board examinations. We describe three additional modalities to teach HOA to anesthesia residents that have been successfully employed by the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Massachusetts: 1) Tours; 2) Historical Narratives and Novels; and 3) Movies and Video Clips. Conclusions: It is difficult to impart information using lectures due to time constraints and a very busy didactic schedule in residency programs. HOA related material does not get adequate coverage in standard textbooks of anesthesiology. We describe successful use of three modalities of imparting interesting information in an informal setting. Such efforts provide a unique experience during residency training. From preliminary reports we are confident that details from such tours, novels and movies remain imprinted in their memory for many years, perhaps permanently. These individuals are likely to remain advocates of history, and may choose to devote a part of their academic career towards exploration of HOA

Announcing the 19th Spring Meeting of the Anesthesia History Association - May 2-4, 2013, Hartford, Connecticut

Announcement and description of the program for the 19th Spring Meeting of the Anesthesia History Association, May 2-4, 2013, in Hartford, Connecticut

Primer on Medical History for Anesthesiologists: Introduction

Editor’s note: The absence of a recognized formal curriculum in anesthesia history means that many of us have known and unknown gaps in our knowledge. These gaps limit our ability to understand how things came to be, how things may become and how we can affect the future. I have asked Dr. Manisha Desai and Dr. Sukumar Desai to provide a survey of medical history. The goals of this primer are 1) to educate, and 2) to help individuals target future study. Below is the first article in a continuing series

Horace Wells Memorials in the City of Hartford, Connecticut

Introduction: Hartford, capital city of Connecticut was where Horace Wells conducted most of his work on the only anesthetic gas still used in clinical practice since the 19th century – nitrous oxide. Wells was born and raised in Hartford, Vermont, studied dentistry in Boston and established his practice in Hartford, Connecticut. Various icons celebrating Wells’ unique contributions in discovering the analgesic properties of nitrous oxide are located throughout this city. Materials and Methods: We consulted staff at Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) and at Hartford Medical Society to help identify sites and artifacts in Hartford that honor Horace Wells. Thereafter, we visited and studied each of these sites. Results: In 1847, Wells wrote a pamphlet titled ‘History of the Discovery of the Application of Nitrous Oxide Gas, Ether and Other Vapors to Surgical Operations.’ (Fig. 1). In 1907, the Spanish Dental Society honored Wells by awarding the city of Hartford a silver coat of arms. (Fig. 2) After Wells’ tragic death in 1848, his friend and dental colleague, John Riggs, prepared a death mask. (Fig. 3). The original mask was used by T. H. Bartlett in 1874 to sculpt a bronze statue of Horace Wells that was erected in Bushnell Park1 (Fig. 4). Wells’ office was located on Main Street, Hartford, and a plaque has been inserted onto the modern structure that stands in its place currently (Fig. 5). Horace and Elizabeth Wells were buried initially at Hartford’s Old North Cemetery. However, in 1908, Charles T. Wells (Horace’s only son) disinterred his parents’ remains from Old North Cemetery and reinterred them at Cedar Hill Cemetery. He also commissioned sculptor Louis Potter to create a fitting memorial consisting of a large granite grave marker with a bronze plaque on the front surface, and two angel figures on either end depicting the glory of his father’s discovery.2 (Fig. 6) Charles’ efforts to recognize his father’s discovery also led him to order from Louis C. Tiffany, a stain glass window (Fig. 7) that adorns Center Congregational Church. The Chapel at Trinity College has a pew dedicated to Horace Wells (Fig. 8).3 American artist Charles Noel Flagg (1848-1916) painted a portrait of Horace Wells, and this is part of the collection at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art (Fig. 9).3,4 Conclusions: The city of Hartford, Connecticut celebrates Horace Wells’ achievements with many historical monuments, gifts, books and paraphernalia; thereby remembering his role in the discovery of the anesthetic effects of nitrous oxide. His work was recognized not only in the United States, but also in Europe.

The Discovery of Modern Anaesthesia – Contributions of Davy, Clarke, Long, Wells and Morton

While many may argue as to who deserves the most credit for the discovery of modern anaesthesia, events in the late 18 th and early 19 th centuries led to the introduction and development of modern anaesthetic techniques. English physicist and chemist Humphry Davy [1778-1829] first became aware of the sedative and analgesic properties of nitrous oxide in 1795. Although he never experimented with the drug during a surgical procedure, he was the first to suggest that it would be beneficial in relieving pain during surgical procedures. The mind-altering properties of nitrous oxide and ether were often abused for recreational purposes, and the term \u27ether frolics\u27 was coined to describe such use. While physician William Crawford Williamson Long [1815-1878] first used ether during general surgery, medical student William Edward Clarke [1819-1898] was the first to use ether for dental extraction in 1842. Dr. Long neglected to publicize his findings until 1849, thereby denying himself much of the credit he deserved. Dentist Horace Wells [1815-1848] successfully used nitrous oxide for dental procedures, but a public demonstration which he held in January 1845 turned out to be a fiasco. Medical student William Thomas Green Morton [1819-1868] was the first to publicly demonstrate the effectiveness of ether for general surgery on October 16, 1846. This article seeks to give rightful credit to each of these individuals for their unique contributions to the discovery of modern anaesthesia

William James Morton (1845 – 1920): Like Father, Like Son?

William Thomas Green Morton, the man most commonly associated with the introduction of anesthesia in 1846, fathered William James Morton. William James Morton’s contributions to society were substantial. He conducted pioneering work in radiology, radiation oncology, and therapeutic electricity. He authored numerous textbooks and articles, and he was an editor of a journal on human behavior. His expertise on diamond mining led to an error in judgment that resulted in a felony conviction. We examine his career and contributions to society, and consider his career in light of his father, William Thomas Green Morton

Gajah. Securing the Future for Elephants in India.

It is estimated that six in every ten wild Asian elephants live in India. This report by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in India outlines plans to safeguard the species and associated habitats in the face of rapid economic expansion and development pressures

Shift of paradigm needed towards improving human-elephant coexistence in monoculture landscapes in Sabah

This article outlines the contemporary situation of the Bornean elephant Elephas maximus borneensis in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo), and focuses on the existing challenges that need to be addressed to enable people and elephants to coexist, particularly in man‐made landscapes dominated by oil‐palm plantations. Bornean elephants are confined mostly to Sabah, to the north‐east 5% of the Borneo Island. Sabah started to expand its commercial plantation sector in the early 1980s and is the largest producer of palm oil in Malaysia, contributing c. 10% of global output for this commodity. The rapid pace of plantation expansion has resulted in the loss of the majority of lowland areas that are also needed by large mammal species to sustain breeding populations. Elephants are extreme lowland/floodplain specialists, and they still attempt to use their former and preferred habitat, which is now mostly dominated by oil‐palm plantations. At the time of writing, the land‐use planning system favoured by the government insufficiently incorporates the ecological and management needs for elephants across the entire landscape. This article also highlights the need for better collaboration and coordination between stakeholders to address the increasing rate of human–elephant conflicts in Sabah