Genius on the Edge: The Bizarre Double Life of Dr. William Stewart Halsteadby Gerald Imber--389 pgs
The life of Dr. Halstead, though fascinating, never quite lives up to the "bizarre" of the subtitle. Odd, sure, with the drug problems, the wandering off on five or six month long vacations every year, with attendant excuses, and his unique home-life and marriage, but not necessarily bizarre.
Halstead, who worked as a physician and surgeon from the late 1870's until his death in 1922, revolutionized surgery. He was the first competent surgeon to insist on aseptic technique, gowned and eventually masked and gloved surgical teams, and careful treatment of tissue and blood vessels surrounding the affected area. He was the first perform thorough mastectomies, transforming breast cancer from a certain death sentence into a survivable condition. His surgical technique for hernia was the first that resulted in actual, long-term improvement of this common condition. He was a teacher to many who changed the way pathology, neurosurgery, and vasuclar surgery were performed and regarded. He was also an early proponent of local anesthesia for surgery and it was his experiments with cocaine that led to his long-time addiction. His treatment for this addiction led to his life-long addiction to morphine and it was his battle to keep both addictions in check to an extent that allowed him to work that seems to have formed his odd schedule and interesting lifestyle. Imber writes a compelling story, readable throughout, with many interesting supporting characters. This book was never dry, though some of the personal notes about Halstead seemed speculative.--Patrick
Halstead figures heavily in the book I read in Feb.: Blood and Guts: a history of surgery.
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