The Development of Anaesthesiology in German-Speaking Countries

Abstract

Heyfelder administered the first ether anaesthetic on 24 January 1847. For the next century, surgeons gave anaesthesia or directed its administration by a nurse or a less experienced person. To the 1940s, most surgeons-anaesthetists dripped ether or chloroform onto Esmarch or Schimmelbusch masks. In 1902, Roth described an anaesthetic machine produced by the Dräger brothers using compressed gases and reducing valves. In 1907, Dräger added its Pulmotor, a ventilator. In 1903, Fischer and von Mering synthesized barbitone, the first of the barbiturates. In 1905, Kuhn advocated Macewen’s technique of orotracheal intubation and until the 1950s, tracheal tubes were usually inserted under local anaesthesia and digital control. In 1908, Küppers patented the rotameter, subsequently used by Neu in 1910 to deliver anaesthetic gases from the Rotameter Company’s new anaesthesia machine, and ultimately used to control gas flow for much of the next century. Pharmacologist Straub produced the first electrically driven roller pump in 1911 to accurately infuse intravenous fluids and drugs during anaesthesia, and surgeon Martin developed today’s drip-chamber. Schmidt introduced the Codman-Cushing anaesthetic records into Germany at the end of the 1920s. In 1932, pharmacist Weese described a new, water-soluble, ultra-short acting barbiturate, hexobarbital. In 1953, Frey devised an electronic device for continuous analysis of volatile agents.