Historedia
Person

Henry Jacob Bigelow

Events
2
Episodes
5
Years
1846–1849

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Henry Jacob Bigelow, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. William T. G. Morton demonstrates ether anesthesia at Massachusetts General Hospital

    1846

    Role: Arranger

    1. 30 September 1846 · Dental practicePrior Dental Extraction

      Morton performed a painless dental extraction using ether, prompting the public demonstration.

    2. 16 October 1846 · Ether DomePublic Demonstration of Ether Anesthesia

      Morton publicly demonstrated ether anesthesia at MGH, enabling painless tumor removal by surgeon Warren.

  2. Phineas Gage survives a severe brain injury

    1848–1849

    Role: Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School

    1. 13 September 1848 · South of the village of Cavendish, VermontAccident at Cavendish

      Gage was directing a work gang blasting rock for the Rutland & Burlington Railroad when an iron rod was driven through his head.

    2. April 1849 · Cavendish, Vermont, where Gage returned to visit HarlowClinical Observations by Harlow

      Harlow noted physical symptoms including loss of vision and ptosis of the left eye, and a large scar on the forehead.

    3. November 1849 · BostonMedical Verification in Boston

      Bigelow brought Gage to Boston to verify the injury's authenticity, presenting him to the Boston Society for Medical Improvement.

Sources

  1. William T. G. Morton Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-10
  2. Phineas Gage Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-06