"THE FIRST SPECIALIST IN ANESTHESIOLOGY": SNOW'S ON CHLOROFORM AND OTHER ANESTHETICS, 1858 FIRST EDITION

SNOW, John. On Chloroform and Other Anaesthetics: Their Action and Administration. London: John Churchill, 1858. Octavo, period-style full tan calf gilt, red and green morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers. $5800.

First edition of the work that "put the administration of chloroform and ether on a scientific basis" (Garrison-Morton).

"Snow, the first specialist in anesthesiology, delivered Queen Victoria with the aid of chloroform in 1853 and 1857. This work put the administration of chloroform and ether on a scientific basis. Snow also investigated amylene, which he was the first to administer" (Garrison-Morton). "Snow was also the first to perform experiments on the physiology of the anesthetized state, and the information obtained during the course of his researches influenced his construction of the first regulating inhaler for clinical use. He used experimental animals for practicing endotracheal anesthesia and the carbon dioxide absorption-rebreathing technique, described intercostal paralysis, determined anesthetic concentrations in air and blood, experimented with dozens of anesthetic agents (including amylene, which he was the first to administer), and defined the five stages of anesthesia. Snow died of cerebral hemorrhage shortly after completing the manuscript of this comprehensive work and it was published posthumously, with a definitive biography by his friend B.W. Richardson" (Norman). With one leaf of publisher's advertisements, dated July 1858, bound in at rear. Garrison-Morton 5666. Norman 1970. Owner ink signature and address clipped and tipped to title page.

Title page mounted and rehinged; marginal tear to last leaf of index, not affecting text. Interior generally clean. A handsomely bound copy of this important and scarce title.