Remarks on the superinduction of anaesthesia in natural and morbid parturition . . . Charles T. Jackson's copy

Publisher Information: Boston: William B. Little, 1848.

Simpson, James Young (1811-70). Remarks on the superinduction of anaesthesia in natural and morbid parturition: With cases illustrative of the use and effects of chloroform in obstetric practice. 48pp. Boston: William Little & Co., 1848. 232 x 145 mm. Original printed wrappers, light wear at extremities, tiny marginal tear in front wrapper, small dampstain. Very good. From the library of Charles T. Jackson (1805-80), discoverer of the anesthetic properties of sulfuric ether, with his signature and note on the front wrapper.

First American Edition, originally published in Edinburgh in 1847. Simpson, who held the chair of midwifery at Edinburgh University, adopted ether anesthesia shortly after its introduction into Europe in late 1846, and was the first to use anesthesia in obstetrics. He afterwards became dissatisfied with sulfuric ether as an anesthetic and set himself the task of finding other anesthetic substances without ether’s drawbacks. On November 4, 1847 Simpson made his famous discovery of chloroform anesthesia, which he announced in his Account of a New Anaesthetic Agent as a Substitute for Sulphuric Ether (1847) and further described in several other pamphlets, including the Remarks.

The first American edition of Simpson’s Remarks was published by William B. Little & Co., a Boston pharmacy that manufactured and sold chloroform. This edition adds an appendix containing several letters and testimonials from prominent American medical men, including Charles Jackson, the Boston physician and chemist who discovered the anesthetic properties of sulfuric ether. Jackson’s detailed account of his experiences with chloroform is found on pp. 37-41; Jackson marked the spot with two ink lines in the upper margin of p. 37. We are offering Jackson’s own copy of this work, which he inscribed on the front wrapper: “Dr. C. T. Jackson / Duplicate copy—p. 37 [referring to his own contribution].” Fulton & Stanton, Centennial of Surgical Anesthesia, no. VI.6.

Book Id: 43971

Price: $2,750.00

See all items by