Synopses & Reviews
When a surgeon cuts, the patient does not feel any pain. Today we take this for granted, but for generations surgery was constrained by the unbearable agony that went with it -- until three ill-fated heroes changed the course of medicine in 1846.
After people had searched for a surgical painkiller for thousands of years, the first use of ether finally came about through a combination of coincidence, character, and circumstance, when a cunning Boston dentist crossed paths with an inventive colleague from Hartford and a brilliant, mentally unstable geologist. The result was Ether Day -- a watershed moment that was joyously celebrated around the world for putting an end to pain in surgery. What followed, though, was a battle so bitter, it sent all three men spiraling out of control.
Julie M. Fenster has written a vivid history that is stranger than fiction. Ether Day is the unforgettable story of an American legend propelled by opportunism, glory, frustration, and tragedy.
Synopsis
A fascinating and entertaining look at the men behind the first surgical use of anesthesia--and the price they paid for their breakthrough.
On Friday, October 16, 1846, only one operation was scheduled at Massachusetts General Hospital....
That day in Boston, the operation was the routine removal of a growth from a man's neck. But one thing would not be routine: instead of using pulleys, hooks, and belts to subdue a patient writhing in pain, this crucial operation would be the first performed under a general anesthetic. No one knew whether the secret concoction would work. Some even feared it might kill the patient.
This engrossing book chronicles what happened that day and during its dramatic aftermath. In a vivid history that is stranger than fiction, Ether Day tells the story of the three men who converged to invent the first anesthesia--and the war of ego and greed that soon sent all three men spiraling wildly out of control.
Synopsis
On Friday, October 16, 1846, only one operation was scheduled at Massachusetts General Hospital.... That day in Boston, the operation was the routine removal of a growth from a man's neck. But one thing would not be routine: instead of using pulleys, hooks, and belts to subdue a patient writhing in pain, this crucial operation would be the first performed under a general anesthetic. No one knew whether the secret concoction would work. Some even feared it might kill the patient.
This engrossing book chronicles what happened that day and during its dramatic aftermath. In a vivid history that is stranger than fiction, Ether Day tells the story of the three men who converged to invent the first anesthesia –– and the war of ego and greed that soon sent all three men spiraling wildly out of control.
About the Author
Julie M. Fenster, columnist for the Forbes magazine Audacity, has written articles for publications, including American Heritage, the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. She is the author of the best-selling In the Words of Great Business Leaders, the comprehensive Everyday Money, and award-winning books on business history.