Ether and Chloroform; A Compendium of their History, surgical Use, Dangers, and Discovery. + Anaesthetic Agents, their mode of Exhibition and physiological effects.

Bigelow, Henry Jacob

Publication Date: 1848

About this Item

From the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal; And the Transactions of the American Medical Association, Vo. 1. - Boston: David Clapp, Printer .184, Washington Street, 1848, 8°, 1 Bl., 27 pp. + 18 pp., Orig. Broschiert. FIRST EDITION of one of the most significant early papers on anesthesia! This is a very good to fine copy in the original rare blue wrappers as the copy in the NLM. The first article was originally published in the Boston Medical Surgical Journal in 1846. The second article is from the Transactions of the American Medical Association, Vol. 1. "Bigelow's speedy publication of Morton's discovery , and his subsequent advocacy of ether assured its adoption throughout the civilized world. The above work deals with the priority claims in general and with a defense of Morton's claim in particular" and contains detailed information on their surgical use, dangers and history." Garrison & Morton Bigelow had great concern for the suffering of surgical patients and was interested in finding an ideal agent, which could be used as an anesthetic. Ether had the potential to be of use though there was concern over its flammability. Bigelow used ether and published his observations on use of vapors from sulphuric ether in the Boston Medical Surgical Journal in 1846. In the present report, Bigelow discusses the pros and cons on using ether vapors or chloroform and compares this, in the second article, with other anesthetic agents. This clinical research was a major advancement for surgical operations where pain to the patient was greatly minimized or not felt during the surgery. Henry Jacob Bigelow (1818-1880), the Boston surgeon, is noted for important contributions to surgery and for having published the first account of the use of ether in a surgical operation. He attended the Boston Latin School, entered Harvard at the age of fifteen years, and was a graduated with the class of 1837. He then studied medicine with his father as preceptor, and attended lectures at the medical schools of Harvard and Dartmouth. In 1838 and 1839 he served as a house surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and obtained the degree of doctor of medicine from Harvard Medical School. Bigelow also made important surgical contributions. Through his Boylston Prize essay, Manual of Orthopedic Surgery (1844), he directed attention to a field of surgical endeavor until then neglected in America. In 1869 he described the iliofemoral ligament and its mechanism, and demonstrated the importance of the structure in reducing dislocations of the hip by the flexion method which had been advocated earlier by William W. Reid. Bigelow also improved an instrument (lithotrite) for crushing stones of the bladder, and perfected an evacuator of large caliber for immediate removal of the fragments. He designated the operation "litholaplaxy". Rare - RLIN locates 4 copies, some evidently without the original wrapper with its collective title. Garrison & Morton No. 5730. Seller Inventory # 20600

Bibliographic Details

Title: Ether and Chloroform; A Compendium of their ...

Publication Date: 1848

Binding: Soft cover

Edition: 1st Edition