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While well known in anaesthetic circles for being the first to provide ether anaesthesia for a surgical procedure in June 1847 in Launceston, Tasmania, William Russ Pugh’s achievements in the field of natural history are less well known. He personally assisted Count Peter de Strzelecki in the chemical analysis of Australian coal and mineral samples and provided the laboratory space and equipment. His analytic skills were utilised by coroners in cases of poisoning. He was consulted about a ship’s cargo which threatened to spontaneously combust in Launceston’s port. He was a founding member of the Tasmanian Society and subsequently of the Royal Society of Tasmania. He made many presentations on geology, zoology, botany, mineralogy and meteorology to meetings of both Societies. These scientific interests may have provided the knowledge and motivation which encouraged Pugh to proceed so confidently with the introduction of ether anaesthesia.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	William Russ Pugh, anaesthesia, Tasmanian Society, Royal Society of Tasmania, Sir John Franklin, Strzelecki
Research Division:	History and Archaeology
Research Group:	Historical Studies
Research Field:	Australian History (excl. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History)
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding Knowledge in History and Archaeology
Author:	Paull, JD (Dr John Paull)
ID Code:	71690
Year Published:	2011
Web of Science® Times Cited:	2
Deposited By:	History and Classics
Deposited On:	2011-08-01
Last Modified:	2014-10-10
Downloads:	1 View Download Statistics