Anaesthetics Collection

Horace Wells / Anaesthetic
Horace Wells attempts his first anaesthetised operation in front of a public gallery, but does not administer enough gas & the patient cries out; the crowd jeers him

Chloroform / Experiment
Hannah Greener, who became the first fatality under chloroform anasethesia during a minor operation to have a toe nail removed

Simpson researching anaesthetics, 1840s
Sir James Young Simpson (1811-1870), Scottish doctor. This historical artwork shows Simpsons butler walking in on Simpson, who is suffering from the effects of a recent experiment

Administering gas and ether to a patient in a sitting position, using Clover's apparatus
527508 Administering gas and ether to a patient in a sitting position, using Clover's apparatus. From RJ Probyn-Williams A Practical Guide to the Administration of Anaesthetics, London, 1901

Surgeon and his assistants, before the introduction of anaesthetics, prepared to perform an amputation at the shoulder
526833 Surgeon and his assistants, before the introduction of anaesthetics, prepared to perform an amputation at the shoulder. Surgeon stands, left, next the assistant surgeon (behind patient)

An Operator (engraving)
1094666 An Operator (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: An Operator. Illustration for Science and Literature in the Middle Ages by Paul Lacroix (Bickers)

Thomas Spencer Wells (1818-1897)
864371 Thomas Spencer Wells (1818-1897) by Sambourne, Edward Linley (1844-1910); (add.info.: Thomas Spencer Wells (1818-1897) English surgeon, born at St Albans, Hertfordshire

Marie Jean Pierre Flourens, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c
2619148 Marie Jean Pierre Flourens, from Les Merveilles de la Science, published c.1870 (litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Marie Jean Pierre Flourens)

Use of anaesthetics in dentistry, Paris, France 1885
Use of anaesthetics in dentistry, Dental School, Odontotechnical Institute, Paris, France. Date: 1885

The Late Sir James Young Simpson, Baronet (engraving)
1057210 The Late Sir James Young Simpson, Baronet (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Late Sir James Young Simpson, Baronet)

Portrait of Sir James Young Simpson, M. D. (engraving)
664641 Portrait of Sir James Young Simpson, M.D. (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Portrait of Sir James Young Simpson, M.D)

At Stradello, Italy, Guglielmo Bonfoco refuses anaesthetics during his leg amputation, provided he may play his accordion Date: 1911

Elizabeth Morton
ELIZABETH MORTON wife of William Thomas Morton, the American discoverer of anaesthetics, in 1845. Date: 1827? - ?

William Thomas Morton
WILLIAM THOMAS GREEN American discoverer of anaesthetics. with his autograph Date: 1819 - 1868

2619146; out of copyright

Thomas Spencer Wells (1818-1897) English surgeon, born at St Albans, Hertfordshire. Served as a surgeon in the Royal Navy (1841-1853) before practicising in London

Surgeon and his assistants, before the introduction of anaesthetics, prepared to perform an amputation at the shoulder. Surgeon stands, left, next the assistant surgeon (behind patient)

Cattle farming, bottle of anaesthetic for epidural into recipient cows during embryo transfer, England, April

Cattle farming, filling syringe from bottle of anaesthetic for epidural into recipient cows during embryo transfer, England, April

Dental maxillary nerve regions, artwork C016 / 6835
Dental maxillary nerve regions. Artwork of the teeth of the upper jaw (maxilla), seen from below, colour-coded by the branches of the superior alveolar nerve that supply the maxillary teeth

Hand palmar nerve regions, artwork C016 / 6836
Hand palmar nerve regions. Artwork of the hand, palm side up, colour-coded by the areas supplied by the three nerves that can be blocked at the wrist with injections of local anaesthetic during

Hand dorsal nerve regions, artwork C016 / 6837
Hand dorsal nerve regions. Artwork of the hand, dorsal side up, colour-coded by the areas supplied by the three nerves that can be blocked at the wrist with injections of local anaesthetic during

Foot medial nerve regions, artwork C016 / 6839
Foot medial nerve regions. Artwork of the medial side of the foot, colour-coded by the areas supplied by the five nerves that can be blocked at the ankle with injections of local anaesthetic during

Foot plantar nerve regions, artwork C016 / 6838
Foot plantar nerve regions. Artwork of the sole of the foot, colour-coded by the areas supplied by the five nerves that can be blocked at the ankle with injections of local anaesthetic during

Nikolay Pirogov, Russian surgeon
Nikolay Ivanovich Pirogov (1810-1881), Russian surgeon and teacher. Pirogov was a pioneering battlefield surgeon and one of the most famous doctors in Russia

James Simpson, Scottish physician
James Simpson (1811-1870), Scottish physician. Simpson, who later called himself James Young Simpson, was the first person to use anaesthetics on women giving birth

Anaesthetics / Guerard
Apparatus for local anaesthetics by Guerard - Richardson - and Matheu

Brave Accordeon Player
At Stradella, Italy, accordeon player Guglielmo Bonfoco refuses anaesthetics for leg amputation, provided he can play his instrument during the operation

Ether / 1847 / Germany
German students get high on ether

Humphry Davy / Experiments
Humphry Davy, whilst director of the laboratory of the Pneumatic Institution, Clifton, investigates the effects of nitrous oxide (laughing gas)

Patient under Anaestheti
Patient being put under anaesthetic before an operation

Anaesthetics Morton
American dentist William Morton successfully uses sulphuric ether on Dr Warrens patient at Boston hospital

Anaesthesia / Accordionist
At Stradella, Italy, Guglielmo Bonfoco refuses anaesthetics during a leg amputation, provided he may play his piano-accordeon

Anaesthetics / Charriere
Charrieres anaesthetic apparatus

Surgery / Chloroform / 1885
A surgical operation in the Murghab valley; the patient is under chloroform

Simpson / Chloroform / 1847
James Young Simpson experiments with chloroform and is discovered by a colleague

Chloroform Inhaler / 1885
Diagram of Junkers chloroform inhaler with an explanation of how it works

Ether / Anaesthetics / 1885
Using Dr. Ormsbys ether inhaler

Charles Jackson / Anaesthe
Charles Jackson experiments on himself with sulphuric ether

Paul Bert / Anaesthetics
Dr. Paul Berts method of using compressed nitrous oxide

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Anaesthetics have revolutionized the field of medicine, allowing for painless surgeries and procedures that were once unimaginable. The journey towards discovering these miraculous substances began with Horace Wells, who first experimented with anaesthetic properties in the 1840s. One significant breakthrough came when chloroform was introduced as an anaesthetic. This experiment paved the way for safer and more effective methods of sedation during surgical procedures. Meanwhile, Simpson dedicated his research to exploring different types during the same era. Nikolay Pirogov, a Russian surgeon, also played a crucial role in advancing the use of anaesthetics. His contributions not only improved patient comfort but also led to better surgical outcomes. The use became so widespread that even dentistry embraced their benefits by 1885 in Paris, France. This marked a turning point for dental patients who no longer had to endure excruciating pain during oral procedures. Throughout history, many individuals have been involved in promoting and advocating for the use of anaesthetics. Thomas Spencer Wells (1818-1897), Marie Jean Pierre Flourens from Les Merveilles de la Science publication, Sir James Young Simpson Baronet - all contributed significantly to this medical breakthrough. However, it is important to note that not everyone readily accepted or embraced the idea of using anaesthetics. Guglielmo Bonfoco's refusal to receive them during his leg amputation at Stradello, Italy serves as a reminder that acceptance took time and varied among individuals. Despite initial resistance or skepticism surrounding their usage, today we owe much gratitude to those like Elizabeth Morton who championed for widespread access and utilization of these life-changing substances.