Landmark of Anesthesiology in Boards

Researches, Chemical and Philosophical; Chiefly Concerning Nitrous Oxide or Dephlogisticated Nitrous Air, and its Respiration.

London: Printed fort J. Johnson by Biggs and Cottle, Bristol, 1800.

Price: $9,500.00


About the item

First edition of his first book. Engraved plate. xvi, [2], 580, [2] pp. Errata in rear. Letterpress advertisement slip for The British Review tipped to the front endpaper, 16-pp. publisher's ads dated February 1811 bound in the rear. Uncut. 8vo. Landmark of Anesthesiology in Boards. Early paper-backed boards, letterpress paper spine label. Minor foxing. Green morocco backed slipcase. Dibner 128; Garrison-Morton 5646; Gedeon pp.156-57; Waller 11113; Wellcome II, p. 436; Norman 607.

Item #345410

"Davy, apprenticed as a surgeon-apothecary, published the above at age 22. Two years earlier, he experimented with various gases at the Medical Pneumatic Institution in Bristol, to determine their medical properties. He discovered that pure nitrous oxide (laughing gas) was respirable and himself breathed large quantities of it with exhilarating effect. He observed that 'it may probably be used with advantage in surgical operations'" (Dibner). "Davy discovered the anaesthetic properties of nitrous oxide and suggested its use during surgical operations, a suggestion which was not turned to useful account until 1844" (Garrison-Morton). The frontispiece, depicting a Mercurial Airholder and Breathing Machine, illustrates the description of the apparatus by William Clayfield in the Appendix.

A superb example in boards, likely a remainder of the first edition purchased by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, with their February 1811 ads inserted in the rear.