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So, this might be old hat for most of you, but I recently wrote a small research paper on some various aspects of anesthesia. Part of it was a history of anesthesia, and my most amusing observation was that almost all of the early discoverers were getting high all the time on nitrous oxide and ether and mostly stumbled on the anesthetic properties.
A close second was that there were traveling scientists who put on shows where members of the audience would go up and get really high on nitrous oxide and just clown around on stage for everyone's amusement. Discoveries were made when these people injured themselves pretty badly and didn't realize it until after they were back in their seats.
And, back in the day (mid-19th century), large numbers of people would go on "ether jags" where a group of friends would all toke up on ether and just goof off while they were high. That one's not too surprising considering alcohol, pot, Robitussin, etc., but still interested me.
And, the guy who first demonstrated nitrous oxide's effects in front of a Harvard med school audience got booed off stage, went into a huge depression, and eventually committed suicide in prison after assaulting a women while high on chloroform.
Finally, the ringing endorsement after a successful application of anesthesia via sulfuric ether was "Gentlemen, this is no humbug." from a famous Harvard surgeon.
Sordid past, no? Or did pretty much everyone know this already?
A close second was that there were traveling scientists who put on shows where members of the audience would go up and get really high on nitrous oxide and just clown around on stage for everyone's amusement. Discoveries were made when these people injured themselves pretty badly and didn't realize it until after they were back in their seats.
And, back in the day (mid-19th century), large numbers of people would go on "ether jags" where a group of friends would all toke up on ether and just goof off while they were high. That one's not too surprising considering alcohol, pot, Robitussin, etc., but still interested me.
And, the guy who first demonstrated nitrous oxide's effects in front of a Harvard med school audience got booed off stage, went into a huge depression, and eventually committed suicide in prison after assaulting a women while high on chloroform.
Finally, the ringing endorsement after a successful application of anesthesia via sulfuric ether was "Gentlemen, this is no humbug." from a famous Harvard surgeon.
Sordid past, no? Or did pretty much everyone know this already?
