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William Russ Pugh's remarkable life: natural scientist, innovative anaesthetist and founding member of the Royal Society of Tasmania
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 06:58 authored by Paull, JDWhile 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.
History
Publication title
Anaesthesia and Intensive CareVolume
39Issue
4 (Supplement)Pagination
18-26ISSN
0310-057XDepartment/School
School of HumanitiesPublisher
Australian Soc AnaesthetistsPlace of publication
P O Box 600, Edgecliff, Australia, Nsw, 2021Rights statement
Copyright 2011 Australian Society of AnaesthetistsRepository Status
- Restricted