Search

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes adventure, A Study in Scarlet, was published 100 years ago. Between 1887 and 1927 he wrote 56 short stories and four novels about his fictional detective. Episodes in the adventures which relate to anaesthetic drugs are described. Use of the drugs was criminal in the case of chloroform, opium, and curare; therapeutic in the case of morphine; and recreational when Holmes himself used cocaine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of modern anaesthesia started on October 16, 1846 when WTG Morton demonstrated ether anaesthesia in Massachusetts General Hospital in USA. For about one month the new born branch of medicine was without a name. The word anaesthesia as we know of now as a science and art was suggested by Oliver Holmes Wendell in November 1846. New discoveries and inventions followed. Most of them needed new names or terminologies. Some of them were named by the people who discovered them, some by the people who did studies later. Few words existed before 1846 and majority naturally came after. A peep is made into the glorious past of anaesthesia which is one of mankind's greatest discoveries. This article salutes the great personalities who coined those words, which millions of tongues speak daily around the globe [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biography of Heyman Harold (Heymie) Samson, anaesthetic innovator, in South Africa, is presented. He was born in Cape Town in 1911, matriculated at the South African College School in 1928, and studied medicine at London University. He became the first South African to be awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for gallantry in the North African Campaign, his inventions included neonatal resuscitator, halothane vaporiser and carbon dioxide absorber.

The article presents abstracts on medical topics which include the safety and possible effectiveness of salivary gland gene therapy in humans, the preventive methods for oral diseases, and the longevity of posterior dental restorations.

Abstract: Study Objective: To determine the extent to which history of anesthesia-related topics are included in the didactic curriculum of United States residency programs in anesthesiology. Design: Survey instrument. Setting: University-affiliated hospital. Measurements: In addition to information related to the identity of the respondent and institution, we inquired about the presence of faculty members with an interest in the history of anesthesia (HOA), the inclusion of HOA-related lectures in the didactic curriculum, whether the program would consider inviting an outside lecturer for a session devoted to HOA, the inclusion of HOA-related tours, and whether the program would allow residents an elective rotation of one to three months devoted to a research project related to HOA. Main Results: On the basis of responses from 46 of 132 residency programs (35%), 54% of programs had at least one faculty member with an interest in HOA, and 45% of programs included lectures related to HOA in their didactic curriculum. An encouraging finding was that 83% of programs (without such didactic sessions) were willing to invite visiting professors to deliver lectures on HOA. The vast majority (91%) did not conduct tours related to HOA, while 74% indicated a willingness to allow residents interested in HOA to devote one to three months to undertake such projects. Conclusions: The low rate of interest in HOA among faculty members, and the lower rate of inclusion of lectures related to HOA during residency training, suggests that substantial barriers exist within the academic community towards a wider acceptance of the importance of HOA. Two positive indicators were the willingness to invite outside speakers and the receptivity to allowing residents to devote one to three months to projects related to HOA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: According to the literature on the history of anaesthesia, Finland's first anaesthesia was given on March 8, 1847 for a ligature of an aneurysm of the subclavian artery. It has, however, not been possible to verify the date with certainty. We therefore wanted to find out whether newspapers might give additional information and how this exceptionally important medical invention had been received by the Finnish newspapers.Methods: Microfilms of the 10 newspapers which appeared in Finland in 1847 were studied at the Helsinki University library.Results: The first report which made reference to English newspapers was published on February 10 by "Borgå Tidning". On March 6, "Helsingfors Tidningar" wrote that two anaesthesias had already been given in Helsinki; the first of them for a difficult varicose veins operation and the second for an exarticulation of a shoulder. But there was no information regarding the dates of the operations. Fortunately, both operations had been recorded in the patient diary of the clinic, although without any information about the anaesthesia. According to the diary, Johan August Orn was operated for varicose veins on February 16 and Anders Gustaf Henrikson had his right arm exarticulated on March 3. Both patients recovered. In total, only six pieces of news on anaesthesia were found.Conclusions: Finland's first anaesthesia was given on February 16, 1847, which is three weeks earlier than had been previously assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the history of anaesthesia and its physiological and psychological effects on patients.

The author reflects on the history of anaesthesia. Topics discussed include the role of anaesthesia in society, publication of the social and scientific research relating to the development of anaesthesia, and interest of the historians in medical history. It discusses the use of anaesthesia journals and textbooks for historical research.

The article explores the history of insufflation anesthesia and the apparatus of British anesthesiologist Francis Shipway. Respiration by insufflation was first described in 1667 by Royal Society Curator Robert Hook. In 1907, a urethral catheter was introduced into the trachea during head and facial surgery. Meanwhile, Shipway devised an apparatus to deliver warmed ether vapour to patients. He developed his own intratracheal device using an electric blower as the gas supply.

Book review for history supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "The History of Anaesthesia in Australia 1846-1934" by G. Wilson and colleagues in the 1995 issue

The article presents a reflection on why tourniquet anesthesia was not discovered earlier. According to contemporary accounts of James Cooke in 1685, amputation is a dreadful but necessary operation. Despite its agony and adverse effects, non-anesthetic amputation was historically accepted and practiced with the belief that it can save life. Since anesthetics were not available before 1846, alcohol and opium were used as anesthesia, although not frequently. The author describes his discovery of the tourniquet anesthesia. He also ponders on why tourniquet anesthesia was not discovered earlier despite the presence of the idea of numbing in the 1630s.

The article discusses the pioneers of medical care and how often their thoughts and practices were mocked and criticised. Topics include the cases of such medical pioneers like James Young Simpson, Elizabeth Blackwell and William Smellie, and how medical process like Underwater birth and minimal access surgery have all been a subject of ridicule.

The article presents a speech by M. W. Heft at the 93rd International Association for Dental Research (IADR) in Boston, Massachusetts in March of 2015. He comments on being elected president of the IADR and talks about the contributions of dentist William T.G. Morton who in September 1846 performed a painless dental extraction under ether anesthesia and a month later presided over a public demonstration of clinical anesthesia. He reflected on anesthesiologist Henry K. Beecher's pain research.

The article discusses the book fair "History of Anaesthesia," which runs until May 12, 2013 at Fisher Library, University of Sydney in New South Wales. It states that the event focuses on pain relief, and presents special collections and rare books and preserved equipment museum by the Australian Society of Anaesthetists. It also considers the book "The Herball: An Expositive Worke After the Order of the Alphabet," translated by surgeon John Halle as the most precious book in the event.

The article discusses the risk factors associated with administering anesthesia in emergency patients and patients with severe comorbidities. Some 230 million major surgical procedures are being carried out under anesthesia every year across the world, according to the data from the World Health Organization (WHO). The risk factors of anesthesiological management relative to postoperative morbidity and mortality were investigated by a Dutch case-control study.

The article discusses some reports on the earlier use of anesthesia, previously published in the journal.

The article reports on a case of plagiarism in the July 2008 Symposium on Anaesthesia History. It cites the stand of the editorial board of the publication on the total unacceptability of plagiarism and the availability of a software that can discover such cases before being published. It laments the continuing occurrence of plagiarism despite instructions against it appearing in every issue and the careful scrutiny of all submissions. It extends its apology to Doctor Alistair McKenzie whose work was plagiarised.

Provides a history of pain relief and anesthesia citing the precedent work on the science by the Greeks. Letter written in 1907 describing the manner in which Greek surgeons treated a wound showing prior knowledge of anesthetics.

This article focuses on the history of anesthesia. From remote times until the advent of plastic, the sponge, a humble marine poriferan, proved helpful to mankind as anesthesia. The ancient people distinguished four different species of sponges. The cleansing of wounds with cold water and sponges or the frictions with oil-soaked sponges must have suggested their use as vectors of soothing substances and analgesics. The use of sea sponges not rinsed in water, in order to keep their hygroscopic properties unaltered, was recommended in the 12th century. Professor Ugo Borgognoni pioneered new soporific mixtures and their inhalational administration instead of the usual oral route. Drugs he repeatedly used include thebaic opium in various doses, the herb of Matala, henbane, and mandrake. The sponge was to experience a glorious revival in surgery and anesthesia when soaked in ether. Controversy surrounded the best apparatus to deliver ether anesthesia, which was being rapidly adopted by surgeons throughout Europe. Luigi Porta, Professor of Surgery at the University of Pavia, who experimented with ether on himself about one hundred times, favored simplicity.

Presents a historical background on the application of surgical anesthesia in the military. Technique for administering chloroform or ether; Information on the record of deaths which resulted from the use of anesthesia in operations during the Civil War.

Looks at the role of `The Lancet' in disseminating information in the 1800s about the use of anesthesia. Photograph from an issue of the magazine in 1947 which showed the apparatus used to administer ether; The series entitled Operations without Pain, which ran for 13 weeks; Quotes about the use of ether in midwifery. INSETS: Letter from Henry Bigelow;Grateful for ether.

Focuses on the ancient issue concerning the administration of anesthesia during childbirth in France.