t has been a remarkable year for those interested in preserving anesthesiology’s heritage. ASA, through the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology (WLM), has been at the forefront of such efforts. This seems most appropriate insofar as — regardless of “who was first” — anesthesiology is a uniquely American innovation. And although the cycles of the medical antiquities market are poorly understood, following a seemingly protracted “dry spell,” a number of interesting items have recently come on the market. Such items may well be available for purchase only once, and are either preserved by museums, or may disappear into private collections.

The trustees of the WLM dedicate their efforts to preserving the heritage of our craft for our members, students of medical history and interested individuals around the world. There are several quite distinct activities involved in this endeavor: finding and/or acquiring the items of interest (as highlighted in last year’s September NEWSLETTER); preserving them for decades to come; and last but not least, making the objects and/or knowledge associated with them available while keeping them safe.

Each September the WLM Trustees compile a section of the NEWSLETTER with the goal of updating our membership on issues related to our specialty’s heritage. This issue is one of several with the goal of sharing with our membership the “nuts and bolts” of maintaining and running a library and a museum. First, in addition to the WLM, there are two other major museums containing anesthesiology artifacts: The Arthur E. Guedel Memorial Anesthesia Center in San Francisco (see page 25) and the Crawford W. Long Museum (see page 22) just outside of Atlanta. Selma H. Calmes, M.D., and William D. Hammonds, M.D., are or have been trustees of these organizations in addition to their roles at WLM, and each has provided a brief description of the museums and their respective collections. Next, WLM Honorary Curator George S. Bause, M.D., provides a pictorial sampler of this year’s new acquisitions. The incomparable Paul M. Wood Distinguished Librarian Patrick Sim describes an exciting new acquisition, classic Chinese texts on acupuncture circa 1600, and also puts an interesting spin on the question of “Who was really first?” (page 11). Last but not least, following two decades in Boston, I write regarding the acquisition of a previously unknown letter demonstrating just how fast the news of ether — and of the ether controversy — spread across the globe. But first, some of the “nuts and bolts.”

By What Paths Do Acquisitions End Up in the WLM?
The first step in managing any collection is the formulation and updating of the collection policy. This is a major and recurring undertaking by the trustees, since it dictates what is of sufficient interest to warrant the expense of buying, cataloging, storing, archiving, etc. An example of a recent change to the collections policy includes the collecting of early Web sites in our specialty. One of the earliest, and probably the earliest in anesthesiology, was the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA) Web site, mastered by J. Lance Lichtor, M.D. When I’ve seen Lance at meetings for the past several years, I’ve always asked him if he’s found an early version of the SAMBA Web site anywhere. The answer has always been the same: “No.” No, he didn’t keep any old computers. No, then-SAMBA Executive Director Gary W. Hoormann didn’t back it up. And no to any of the other possible places where a copy might have been. But about a month ago, I got an e-mail from Lance who, while moving, found a copy of the old disks. Although Web sites are an entirely new medium for WLM, this information will surely be of interest in 50 years. Our thanks to Dr. Lichtor for his perseverance and his painstaking packing.

Probably the most exciting and colorful part of acquiring artifacts comes from their purchase or acquisition, in that the medical antiquities business is not so dissimilar from the antique business in general. Much of the information is transmitted by contacts and dealers known to trustees, in some cases, for decades. Desirable items from dealers are not on the market for very long, so the WLM’s Rapid Acquisition Team (RAT) quickly convenes, examines information regarding the item(s) in question — such as its provenance and any information that might lend credence to its authenticity (or not) — and estimates its value. If from a major dealer, the process and price may be negotiable. Sometimes the item is acquired, and sometimes not. Two items featured in this issue were obtained this way (the acupuncture collection and the Charles T. Jackson, M.D., letter — see graphic on this page and acupuncture article on page 11).

A variant on this process, perhaps surprising to some, is eBay. Representatives of the WLM routinely peruse this venue, and if an item of interest is identified, the RAT is convened. On eBay, items may sometimes be obtained at a fraction of their appraised value. Care is taken, however, to preserve the WLM’s anonymity insofar as possible, since any knowledge of such interest in an item lends authenticity and thus increases its value. Examples of items acquired this year on eBay include: a circa-1916 Albany Ether “Pro Narcosi” ether tin and a 1920s CF Boehringer “Muriate of Coca” bottle, shown in the article by Dr. Bause (page 20).

Another way that artifacts and papers of historical significance end up in the WLM is through the kindness and altruism of our members and their families. On occasion, papers, artifacts and other items of interest are donated or bequeathed to the museum, library or archives and are valued in some instances at multiples of five or six figures. An outstanding example of such generosity was the recent donation of the Dorsch and Dorsch collection (described on page 21). The WLM, ASA and indeed the specialty of anesthesiology are most grateful for the opportunity to benefit from such generosity for decades if not centuries to come.

Does “Who Was First” Really Matter?
One of the most interesting acquisitions of the WLM are some items of Charles T. Jackson, M.D., a physician, geologist, artist, teacher and brother-in-law of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Following graduation from the Harvard Medical School, Dr. Jackson studied both medicine and geology in France for several years. During this period, he befriended Élie de Beaumont, M.D., also a geologist and a member of the French Academy of Sciences. Dr. Jackson continued to correspond with Élie de Beaumont following his return to the United States and was ultimately appointed a United States Geologist.

Pictures of portraits of Charles T. Jackson, M.D., and Élie de Beaumont, M.D.

During the long New England winter of 1841-42, Dr. Jackson discovered the anesthetic properties of sulfuric ether. He began advocating the use of ether to physicians and dentists, but without any success. Then on September 30, 1846, Jackson told an enterprising young student, William T.G. Morton, of this finding. Some two weeks later, ether was demonstrated in public at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Another recent acquisition is a previously unknown and unpublished letter from Dr. Jackson to Dr. Élie de Beaumont, addressing his frustrations regarding Morton taking credit for the discovery of ether as an anesthetic. This letter from Dr. Jackson, dated April 30, 1847, just seven months after Morton’s demonstration, and was hand-stamped in Liverpool and then Paris. Jackson’s initial letter, no doubt considerably more politic, was read to the French Academie of Sciences on January 18, 1847, and published in its Compus Rendus. This newly-acquired letter is important because of its presumed confidential nature and because it also indicates how very quickly the word about ether spread around the world. It was acquired along with several other items of Jacksonia, including a Jackson-signed presentation copy of his A Manual of Etherization (1861), inscribed for Massachusetts General Hospital surgeon Winslow Lewis, a student of John Collins Warren, M.D.

Previously unknown and unpublished letter from Dr. Jackson to Élie de Beaumont.

Preserving Our Heritage
As a relative newcomer to the WLM, I am impressed by the skills, the expertise and the commitment to the history of anesthesiology, anesthesiologists and the ASA by very capable members and individuals. Some are experts in rare books, some in artifacts, some in publishing, and so on. Their talents and knowledge, often developed over decades, could have been used to amass valuable personal collections. Instead they help to preserve the heritage of anesthesiology through the good auspices of ASA and WLM.

Cover-and-spine shot of Dr. Jackson’s 1861 text and Dr. Jackson’s inscription to Winslow Lewis

It is, nevertheless, worthwhile remembering that the most effective means of preserving anesthesiology heritage comes from within our membership. Indeed the “first” Jackson to Élie de Beaumont letter, from November 13, 1846, is currently owned by a private collector. The WLM is most eager to work with individuals or businesses that may have access to such items of historical interest and can readily facilitate donations or bequests. As a nonprofit organization, donations are tax-deductible.

Lydia A. Conlay, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Anesthesiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.