No more fear of the dentist!

Incidentally, I found this statue (Place des Etats-Unis) of Horace Wells, with the inscription “American dentist, Innovator of chirurgical anaesthesia, 1815-1848”. My first and immedate thought, on behalf of us all, was of course: Great THANKS, Horace!!

In 1844 Horace discovered the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) at a circus, tested it on himself and started to use it, quite successfully, with his patients.

However, after some misadventure during a demonstration at a hospital in Boston he decided to give up dentistry. He later spent some time in Europe and Paris selling anaesthesia on behalf of an ex-dentist-partner and acting as a European expert on the subject.

He started some unfortunate experiences with chloroform. One day, delirious, he threw sulphuric acid over the clothing of two prostitutes. Then, realising his act, he committed suicide, at the age of 33.