An Examination of Horace Wells' Life as a Manifestation of Major Depressive and Seasonal Affective Disorders

Journal of Anesthesia History
Ramon F Martin, Sukumar P Desai

Abstract

Horace Wells was a Hartford, Connecticut, dentist whose practice flourished because of his clinical skills. He had an imaginative mind that propelled him to the forefront in several aspects of dentistry. Unfortunately, he suffered a recurrent "illness" that began in the winter and resolved in the spring. These symptoms were compatible with both major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder as a qualifier. Wells' introduction of nitrous oxide as an anesthetic was also associated with self-inhalation. This led to periods of hypomania, followed by depression. With the progression to ether, then chloroform, there was an episode of mania in January 1848, followed by depression and suicide.

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Jul 25, 2015·Journal of Anesthesia History·Ramon F Martin, Sukumar P Desai

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