This document summarizes experiences of famous writers with anesthetic agents. It describes how several writers, including Hans Christian Andersen, Oliver Wendell Holmes, William James, Benjamin Blood, and Guy de Maupassant experienced revelations, insights, or altered states of consciousness when inhaling ether or nitrous oxide. The document also discusses how these experiences influenced and were depicted in the later works of writers such as Theodore Dreiser, John Millington Synge, and T.S. Eliot.

1. Famous Writers
and Anesthetic Agents
A.J. Wright, M.L.S.A.J. Wright, M.L.S.
Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor
University of Alabama School of MedicineUniversity of Alabama School of Medicine

2. Types of Experiences
 PatientPatient
 ImaginativeImaginative
 RecreationalRecreational
 EnlightenmentEnlightenment

4. Hans Christian Andersen
[1805-1875]
 Fairy Tale of My LifeFairy Tale of My Life (1855)(1855)
 Described dinner in his honor at home ofDescribed dinner in his honor at home of
J.Y. Simpson in summer of 1847.J.Y. Simpson in summer of 1847.
 Many dinner guests breathed ether.Many dinner guests breathed ether.
 ““I thought it distasteful, especially to seeI thought it distasteful, especially to see
ladies in this dreamy intoxication…”ladies in this dreamy intoxication…”

6. The one great truth which underlies allThe one great truth which underlies all
human experience…flashed upon me in ahuman experience…flashed upon me in a
sudden revelation…I wrote….A strongsudden revelation…I wrote….A strong
sense of turpentine prevails throughout.”sense of turpentine prevails throughout.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., M.D.-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., M.D.

7. The one great truth which underlies allThe one great truth which underlies all
human experience…flashed upon me in ahuman experience…flashed upon me in a
sudden revelation…I wrote….A strongsudden revelation…I wrote….A strong
sense of turpentine prevails throughout.”sense of turpentine prevails throughout.”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., M.D.-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., M.D.

8. ““I once inhaled a pretty full dose of ether,I once inhaled a pretty full dose of ether,
with the determination to put on record, atwith the determination to put on record, at
the earliest moment of regainingthe earliest moment of regaining
consciousness, the thought I should findconsciousness, the thought I should find
uppermost in my mind…”uppermost in my mind…”
-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., M.D.-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., M.D.

10. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., M.D.
[1809-1894]
 Harvard Medical School, 1847-1882Harvard Medical School, 1847-1882
 Novels, poetry, sketches in addition toNovels, poetry, sketches in addition to
medical articles/booksmedical articles/books
 Autocrat of the Breakfast-TableAutocrat of the Breakfast-Table (1858)(1858)

12. William James [1842-1910]
 Psychologist, philosopher/prolific authorPsychologist, philosopher/prolific author
 Varieties of Religious Experience (1902)Varieties of Religious Experience (1902)
 First described his N2O experiences inFirst described his N2O experiences in
18821882
 ““Consciousness Under Nitrous Oxide” 1898Consciousness Under Nitrous Oxide” 1898
– influenced by B. P. Blood– influenced by B. P. Blood

13. “…“…our normal waking consciousness…isour normal waking consciousness…is
but one special type of consciousness,but one special type of consciousness,
whilst all about it, parted from it by thewhilst all about it, parted from it by the
filmiest of screens, there lie potential formsfilmiest of screens, there lie potential forms
of consciousness entirely different.”of consciousness entirely different.”
- James,- James, VarietiesVarieties

14. Looking back on my own experiences, theyLooking back on my own experiences, they
all converge towards a kind of insight toall converge towards a kind of insight to
which I cannot help ascribing somewhich I cannot help ascribing some
metaphysical significance.”metaphysical significance.”
-William James-William James

15. ““The keynote of it is invariably aThe keynote of it is invariably a
reconciliation. It is as if the opposites of thereconciliation. It is as if the opposites of the
world, whose contradictoriness and conflictworld, whose contradictoriness and conflict
make all our difficulties and troubles, weremake all our difficulties and troubles, were
melted into unity.”melted into unity.”
-William James-William James

17. Benjamin Paul Blood
[1832-1919]
 Lived most of his life in Amsterdam, N.Y.Lived most of his life in Amsterdam, N.Y.
 Anaesthetic RevelationAnaesthetic Revelation (1874)(1874)
 PluriversePluriverse (1920)(1920)
 Began correspondence with William JamesBegan correspondence with William James
in 1882in 1882

18. ““It was in the year 1860 that there came toIt was in the year 1860 that there came to
me, through necessary use of anaesthetics, ame, through necessary use of anaesthetics, a
Revelation or insight of the immemorialRevelation or insight of the immemorial
Mystery which among enlightened peoplesMystery which among enlightened peoples
still persists as the philosophical secret orstill persists as the philosophical secret or
problem of the world…”problem of the world…”
B. P. Blood, PluriverseB. P. Blood, Pluriverse

19. Other “Nitrous Oxide”
Philosophers
 Edmund Gurney, English spiritualistEdmund Gurney, English spiritualist
 Phantasms of the LivingPhantasms of the Living (1886)(1886)
 John A. SymondsJohn A. Symonds
 Poet, historian, biographerPoet, historian, biographer
 William RamsayWilliam Ramsay
 Nobel laureateNobel laureate
 Discovered inert gasesDiscovered inert gases

20. William Ernest Henley [1848-1903]
 English poet, critic, editorEnglish poet, critic, editor
 Wrote plays with R.L. StevensonWrote plays with R.L. Stevenson
 As a young man, had operation for club footAs a young man, had operation for club foot
 WroteWrote In HospitalIn Hospital (1873-75), poems about(1873-75), poems about
that experiencethat experience

22. ““Behold me waiting--waiting for the knife.Behold me waiting--waiting for the knife.
A little while, and at a leap I stormA little while, and at a leap I storm
The thick, sweet mystery of chloroform,The thick, sweet mystery of chloroform,
The drunken, dark, the little death-in-life.”The drunken, dark, the little death-in-life.”
Henly, “Before”Henly, “Before”

23. ““The next experience I became aware of,The next experience I became aware of,
who shall relate!…who shall relate!…I knew everything.I knew everything. AA
vast inrush of obvious and absolutelyvast inrush of obvious and absolutely
satisfying solutions to all possiblesatisfying solutions to all possible
problems.”problems.”
-Oscar Wilde to Wm. James, after a dental-Oscar Wilde to Wm. James, after a dental
anesthetic (1895)anesthetic (1895)

25. Guy de Maupassant [1850-1893]
 French authorFrench author
 Wrote hundreds of s.s., several novelsWrote hundreds of s.s., several novels
 Took ether for migrainesTook ether for migraines
 ““Reves” – s.s. in which a doctor praisesReves” – s.s. in which a doctor praises
etherether
 ““Afloat” (1888) – s.s in which narratorAfloat” (1888) – s.s in which narrator
takes ether for migrainestakes ether for migraines

26. “…“…a new way of seeing, judging, appreciatinga new way of seeing, judging, appreciating
things and life, with the certainty, thethings and life, with the certainty, the
complete awareness, that this way was thecomplete awareness, that this way was the
right one.”right one.”
- Maupassant, “Afloat”- Maupassant, “Afloat”

27. McTeague (1899)
by Frank Norris
The dentist McTeague first kisses Trina,The dentist McTeague first kisses Trina,
one of his patients, while she is under etherone of his patients, while she is under ether
anesthesia in his dental parlor.anesthesia in his dental parlor.

29. John Millington Synge
[1877-1909]
 Irish poet and playwrightIrish poet and playwright
 Riders of the Sea (1904)Riders of the Sea (1904)
 Well of the Saints (1905)Well of the Saints (1905)
 Playboy of the Western World (1907)Playboy of the Western World (1907)

31. ““I seemed to traverse whole epochs ofI seemed to traverse whole epochs of
desolation and bliss. All secrets were opendesolation and bliss. All secrets were open
before me, and simple as the universe to itsbefore me, and simple as the universe to its
God.”God.”
-Synge, “Under ether: personal experiences-Synge, “Under ether: personal experiences
during an operation.” Interstate Med Jduring an operation.” Interstate Med J
23:45-49, 191623:45-49, 1916

32. Theodore Dreiser [1871-1945]
 American novelist/playwrightAmerican novelist/playwright
 Sister CarrieSister Carrie (1900)(1900)
 An American TragedyAn American Tragedy (1925)(1925)
 ““Laughing Gas” (1915)Laughing Gas” (1915)

34. “Laughing Gas”
 Dr. Jason James Vatabeel undergoesDr. Jason James Vatabeel undergoes
surgery to remove a tumor from his necksurgery to remove a tumor from his neck
 Under nitrous oxide/oxygen anesthesiaUnder nitrous oxide/oxygen anesthesia
experiences a dark night of the soulexperiences a dark night of the soul
 Dreiser appended Blood’s pamphlet/James’Dreiser appended Blood’s pamphlet/James’
comments to a 1926 reprint of the playcomments to a 1926 reprint of the play

35. Charlotte Perkins Gilman
[1860-1934]
 American authorAmerican author
 ““The Yellow Wallpaper” (1892)The Yellow Wallpaper” (1892)
 In This Our WorldIn This Our World (1893)(1893)
 Women and EconomicsWomen and Economics (1898)(1898)
 Committed suicide on August 17Committed suicide on August 17
 Her note said she “chose chloroform over cancer”Her note said she “chose chloroform over cancer”

37. “Searcy Foote”
““And a bottle of chloroform on the book,And a bottle of chloroform on the book,
She used sometimes for an aching tooth!She used sometimes for an aching tooth!
I poured the chloroform on a handkerchiefI poured the chloroform on a handkerchief
And held it to her nose till she died.-”And held it to her nose till she died.-”
Spoon River AnthologySpoon River Anthology
Edgar Lee Masters [1868-1950]Edgar Lee Masters [1868-1950]

38. Aleister Crowley [1875-1947]
 English author, magicianEnglish author, magician
 Diary of a Drug FiendDiary of a Drug Fiend (1922)(1922)
 ConfessionsConfessions (1989)(1989)
 Addicted to chloroform and ether [inAddicted to chloroform and ether [in
addition to heroin and cocaine]addition to heroin and cocaine]

42. Laughing Gas (1936)
by P. G. Wodehouse
After inhaling nitrous oxide in a dentist’sAfter inhaling nitrous oxide in a dentist’s
office, the Earl of Havershot exchangesoffice, the Earl of Havershot exchanges
identities with a child movie star.identities with a child movie star.

43. Mr. Carl Van Vechten has told me of aMr. Carl Van Vechten has told me of a
fellow-novelist who became so obsessedfellow-novelist who became so obsessed
with the elusive nature of this experiencewith the elusive nature of this experience
that he had a tank of nitrous oxide installedthat he had a tank of nitrous oxide installed
in his basement and employed a nurse toin his basement and employed a nurse to
give it to him. He took it day after day.”give it to him. He took it day after day.”
-Logan Clendening, M.D. [1933]-Logan Clendening, M.D. [1933]

44. ““Each time he firmly decided to rememberEach time he firmly decided to remember
the real secret of the universe. Each time hethe real secret of the universe. Each time he
went under, the mystic and awfulwent under, the mystic and awful
explanation was vouchsafed him. Butexplanation was vouchsafed him. But
invariably when he regained consciousness,invariably when he regained consciousness,
he could no longer remember what it was”he could no longer remember what it was”
-Logan Clendening, M.D. [1933]-Logan Clendening, M.D. [1933]

45. Thomas Sterns Eliot [1888-1965]
““Let us go then, you and I,Let us go then, you and I,
When the evening is spread out against the skyWhen the evening is spread out against the sky
Like a patient etherized upon a table…”Like a patient etherized upon a table…”
-“Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (1915)-“Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (1915)

47. Herbert George Wells
[1866-1946
 Invisible ManInvisible Man (1897)(1897)
 War of the WorldsWar of the Worlds (1898)(1898)
 Outline of HistoryOutline of History (1920)(1920)
 Numerous other novels, non-fiction, s.s.Numerous other novels, non-fiction, s.s.

49. “Under the Knife” (s.s.)
 Narrator undergoes a home operation withNarrator undergoes a home operation with
chloroform as anestheticchloroform as anesthetic
 Has a near-death experienceHas a near-death experience

50. ““I do not think I saw. I do not think I heard;I do not think I saw. I do not think I heard;
but I perceived all that was going on, and itbut I perceived all that was going on, and it
was as if I both heard and saw. Haddonwas as if I both heard and saw. Haddon
was bending over me, Mowbray behind me;was bending over me, Mowbray behind me;
the scalpel…was cutting my flesh…”the scalpel…was cutting my flesh…”
-Wells, “Under the Knife”-Wells, “Under the Knife”

51. Walter de la Mare [1873-1956]
 British novelist and poetBritish novelist and poet
 Memoirs of a midget (1922)Memoirs of a midget (1922)
 Two anesthetics gave him a “clear glimpseTwo anesthetics gave him a “clear glimpse
of the beyond”of the beyond”

52. R. H. Ward
 British novelistBritish novelist
 N2O in dental operationN2O in dental operation
 Perceived “the interrelatedness ofPerceived “the interrelatedness of
everything”everything”

53. John C. Lilly, MD [1915-2001]
 Dolphin ResearchDolphin Research
 Isolation/flotation tanksIsolation/flotation tanks
 Describes his ketamine research inDescribes his ketamine research in
The ScientistThe Scientist (1978)(1978)

56. Marcia Moore [1928-1979]
 Author of books on astrology, diet, yogaAuthor of books on astrology, diet, yoga
 Married to Howard Alltounian, M.D.Married to Howard Alltounian, M.D.
 Disappeared January 14, 1979Disappeared January 14, 1979
 Remains discovered later near their homeRemains discovered later near their home

59. Timothy Leary
[1920-1996]
 Psychologist, authorPsychologist, author
 FlashbacksFlashbacks (1983)(1983)
 Chaos and Cyber CultureChaos and Cyber Culture (1994)(1994)
 Used N2O as one form of pain relieverUsed N2O as one form of pain reliever
while dying from prostate cancer.while dying from prostate cancer.

60. Word Occurrences: Chloroform
 Anne of the IslandAnne of the Island, Montgomery (4), Montgomery (4)
 Elsie VennerElsie Venner, Holmes (3), Holmes (3)
 Insidious Dr. Fu ManchuInsidious Dr. Fu Manchu, Rohmer (1), Rohmer (1)
 Invisible ManInvisible Man, Wells (2), Wells (2)
 UlyssesUlysses, Joyce (4), Joyce (4)
 Sherlock Holmes Complete WorksSherlock Holmes Complete Works, Doyle (5), Doyle (5)