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Sign the
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General Histories | Ancient History | 1800-1850 | 1860
| 1870 | 1880
| 1890 |
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M. Stanislaus Julien claims to have discovered in an ancient Chinese medical record, called "Kon-kin-i-tong," certain data from which it appears that, as far back as the third century of our era, the Chinese were in possession of an anęsthetic agent, which they employed for producing insensibility during surgical operations. In a biographical notice of Hoa-tho, who flourished under the dynasty of Wei, between the years 220 A.D. and 230 A.D., it is stated that he gave the sick a preparation of Cannabis (Ma-yo), who, in a few moments, became as insensible as one plunged in drunkenness or deprived of life. Then, according to the case, he made incisions, amputations, and performed various other surgical operations. After a certain number of days the patient found himself reėstablished, without having experienced the slightest pain during the operation. It appears, from the biography of Han, that this Cannabis was prepared by boiling and distillation. Be this statement true or false, it will not lessen the honor due to Horace Wells, a statue of whom is about to be erected in Hartford, Conn., though its truth would conflict somewhat with the statement made in the Medical and Surgical Reporter, in which the editor, commending the action of the citizens of Hartford, says: "This is a well-deserved honor, for there is nothing plainer or more capable of demonstration than that Horace Wells was the first one who employed an anęsthetic in surgical operations."