Allen and Pauline Siegel of Chicago, Illinois, seem elated in 1941 following the successful Caesarean-section delivery of their son by obstetrician Edward L. Cornell, as performed “under local anesthesia.” During the procedure, the 29-yr-old mother listened to soothing frequency-modulated (FM) radio music. Her obstetrician insisted on keeping the “pain-calmer” music “from distracting the operating staff.” Seventy-seven years ago, this story made newspaper headlines nationwide. (Copyright © the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology.)
Allen and Pauline Siegel of Chicago, Illinois, seem elated in 1941 following the successful Caesarean-section delivery of their son by obstetrician Edward L. Cornell, as performed “under local anesthesia.” During the procedure, the 29-yr-old mother listened to soothing frequency-modulated (FM) radio music. Her obstetrician insisted on keeping the “pain-calmer” music “from distracting the operating staff.” Seventy-seven years ago, this story made newspaper headlines nationwide. (Copyright © the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology.)
George S. Bause, M.D., M.P.H., Honorary Curator and Laureate of the History of Anesthesia, Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology, Schaumburg, Illinois, and Clinical Associate Professor, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. UJYC@aol.com.
