World Anaesthesia Day!
He is a brave and fearless man. Every anesthesiologist knows his name and his contribution in general anesthesia. Do you remember your first dreadful anesthesia? Sure, there was a teacher near you. But anyway it was terrible!
But all of us must know another brave fellow.
His name was Horace Wells and he was a dentist too. Even more he was the first patient to be operated on under nitrous oxide anesthesia, having his tooth extracted by his associate, John Riggs. Then he began utilising it on his own patients. Later Horace Wells gave a demonstration to medical students at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 1845. However, the gas was improperly administered and the patient cried out in pain. The audience of students in the surgical theatre jeered "humbug". Because of this embarrassment, Wells was discredited in the medical community. Later, however, Wells successfully had one of his own teeth removed while using inhalant anesthesia, proving its uses. But his life since that time has changed.
After this disgrace, Wells gave up dentistry and became a travelling salesman for the next two years, wandering Connecticut and selling canaries, shower baths and other household items. In 1847, he left for Paris after being given a demonstration on anesthesia by his prosperous former partner William Morton.
Sometime after returning to the United States, Wells became addicted to chloroform. He became increasingly deranged. One day, delirious, Wells rushed out into the street and threw sulfuric acid over the clothing of two prostitutes. He was committed to New York's infamous Tombs Prison. As the influence of the drug waned, Wells' mind started to clear. In despair, he realised the horror of what he had done. Wells requested the Guards to escort him to his house to pick up his shaving kit, then committed suicide, slitting an artery in his leg with a razor after inhaling an analgesic dose of chloroform to blot out the pain.
Sometime after returning to the United States, Wells became addicted to chloroform. He became increasingly deranged. One day, delirious, Wells rushed out into the street and threw sulfuric acid over the clothing of two prostitutes. He was committed to New York's infamous Tombs Prison. As the influence of the drug waned, Wells' mind started to clear. In despair, he realised the horror of what he had done. Wells requested the Guards to escort him to his house to pick up his shaving kit, then committed suicide, slitting an artery in his leg with a razor after inhaling an analgesic dose of chloroform to blot out the pain.
