The article titled Insensibility during Surgical Operations Produced by Inhalation, published by Henry Jacob Bigelow in 1846, was later selected by readers of the New England Journal of Medicine as the most significant text in the publication's 200-year history. This work detailed his pivotal role in introducing ether anesthesia to the broader medical community, altering the trajectory of surgical practice permanently.
Medical Education and Early Career
Born in Boston in 1818 to Mary Scollay and Jacob Bigelow, a medicine teacher at Harvard, Henry Jacob Bigelow followed an accelerated academic path. He entered Harvard College at age fifteen and earned his undergraduate degree in 1837. His medical training occurred at both Harvard University and the Geisel School of Medicine, the latter under the instruction of Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. He received his M.D. from Harvard in 1841 and was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1846.
Advancements in Surgery and Anatomy
Bigelow served as a Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, where he established himself as a dominant presence in Boston medicine. His research into human anatomy led to the detailed description of the Y-ligament of the hip joint, an anatomical structure that remains associated with his name. His expertise also extended to the treatment of kidney stones. In his 1878 publication, Lithotrity by a Single Operation, he introduced a method for crushing and extracting bladder stones in one procedure. This technique replaced the previous practice of performing multiple sessions, which often caused complications and patient discomfort by leaving stone fragments behind.
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Beyond his surgical techniques, Bigelow contributed to medical knowledge through clinical documentation. His 1850 paper, Dr. Harlow's case of Recovery from the passage of an Iron Bar through the Head, provided critical evidence regarding the survival of Phineas Gage, shifting professional perception of the case from obscurity to widespread awareness. Additionally, he participated in the Parkman–Webster murder investigation and maintained a vocal position against the practice of vivisection.
Final Years
Bigelow concluded his career in Boston. He passed away on October 30, 1890, at his country residence in Newton, Massachusetts, following an accident. He was survived by his son, William Sturgis Bigelow, and was interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 11 March 1818, Boston
- Died: 30 October 1890, Newton
- Education: Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, Geisel School of Medicine
- Occupation: Surgeon, University Teacher
- Professional Membership: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Notable Innovations: Bigelow maneuver, Lithotrity
- Burial Site: Mount Auburn Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Bigelow's contribution to anesthesia?
He authored a landmark 1846 article detailing the medical application of ether, which helped gain widespread clinical acceptance for anesthesia.
What is the Bigelow maneuver?
It is a technique for treating hip dislocations which utilizes his discovery of the structure and function of the hip's Y-ligament.
How did Bigelow improve stone removal surgery?
He developed a method to crush and remove bladder stones in a single sitting, replacing the standard, multi-stage procedure.
Achievements
- Held posts at Harvard Medical School
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