Lecture: "Doctors' Day and Anesthesia, the Legacy of Dr. Crawford W. Long" by William D. Hammond (Reynolds Historical Library: Birmingham, Alabama, 28 March 2003)
Forwarded to HISTNEUR-L from CADUCEUS-L. --RJ --- Begin Forwarded Message --- Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 11:24:06 -0600 From: "A.J. Wright" [a.j.wright@ccc.uab.edu] Subject: FW: Doctors' Day Lecture at Reynolds Historical Library [Birmingh am, Ala.] To: caduceus-l@list.umaryland.edu March 28, 2003, 3 - 4 pm Doctor's Day Lecture "Doctors' Day and Anesthesia, the Legacy of Dr. Crawford W. Long" William D. Hammonds, M.D., M.P.H. Professor of Anesthesia, University of Iowa College of Medicine On March 30, 1842 Crawford W. Long--using sulphuric ether--gave the first anesthetic for a surgical procedure. That historic event in Jefferson, Georgia allowed physicians to perform painless surgery for the first time. Anesthesia has been referred to as America's greatest contribution to medicine and clearly anesthesia dramatically reduced the burden of suffering for all mankind. For much of the one hundred and sixty-one years since the first anesthetic, Crawford W. Long received little recognition for his accomplishment. In the past two decades some credit has at last been granted for Dr. Long's role in introducing this important innovation in medicine. Doctor's Day is one tangible and important symbol of the restoration of Dr. Long to his rightful place in history. This presentation will cover the historical facts of Crawford W. Long's life. His early years and education, his first use of ether as an anesthetic, the ether controversy and Dr. Long's response to the bitter rivalry between the principals in the ether controversy will be discussed. One of Dr. Long's most ardent supporters was Dr. J. Marion Sims of Alabama. The influence that this prominent physician had on Dr. Long will be explored. The talk will conclude with a discussion of how March 30 came to be Doctors' Day. Please join us for a reception following Dr. Hammonds' lecture, and the opening of a major exhibit on the history of anesthesia that will remain at the Reynolds through May. Admission to the lecture and exhibit is free and open to the public. The lecture will be held in the Reynolds Historical Library's Ireland Room, Third Floor of the Lister Hill Library, 1700 University Blvd, on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The reception and exhibit will be in the adjoining Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences. This lecture and exhibit are a joint project of the History of Anesthesia Section, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine and the Reynolds Historical Library, University of Alabama at Birmingham. We would like to thank the Alabama State Society of Anesthesiologists, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and Abbott Laboratories for their support. More information about the Reynolds Historical Library collections and programs can be found at http://www.uab.edu/reynolds/ . More information about the History of Anesthesia Section, Department of Anesthesiology UASOM can be found at http://www.anes.uab.edu/hoasection.htm We hope to see you there!!---aj A.J. Wright, MLS Associate Professor of Anesthesiology Director, Section on the History of Anesthesia Dept of Anesthesiology/Library School of Medicine University of Alabama at Birmingham 619 19th Street South, JT965 Birmingham AL 35249-6810 205-975-0158 205-975-5963 [fax] ajwright@uab.edu http://www.anes.uab.edu/libraryinformation.htm --- End Forwarded Message ---