Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Horace Wells


Horace Wells was a 19th century Hartford dentist who invented anesthesia.  I have posted about him here and here.

Wells is buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery.  At one end of his tombstone, there is an art nouveau bronze of a woman sleeping, and at the other end, a woman awakening.  This is the latter.

For images from graveyards, check out Julie's blog, Taphophile Tragics.

24 comments:

Mo said...

Thank goodness for him

Halcyon said...

Dental anasthesia is definitely a great invention, but I find that woman's bust a little creepy.

Julie said...

Au contraire, Halcyon, I think this woman's bust to be quite wonderful. Her hair is everywhichway as she has just woken up. Were the two statues full-bodied, Jack, or just head and shoulders.

And ... why? Why would a dentist have a woman at either end of his tombsone? One sleeping and the other waking. Could he never be without female company? Was he an egomaniac?

This is a most exquisite cemetery thus far, Jack. I went out to the biggest cemetery in Sydney - Rookwood - on Sunday, and wandered around for 3 hours. I have decided that was an hour too long. I shall restrain myself in future. The temperature got up to 27C, too, which did not help, even though I had a hat and some water.

But I did replenish my dwindling stock of images ... hee hee hee ...

Kate said...

The bronze woman's eyes make her look like she is either in ecstasy or in death's throes.

Sharon said...

That seems appropriate to me.

Lois Evensen said...

Oh, I really appreciate that man's work. :)

Sylvia K said...

Oh, thank goodness for him indeed!! I definitely appreciate his work!! Great post for the day, Jack!

Cezar and Léia said...

wow the art nouveau bronze detail is beautiful! :)
Léia

Taken For Granted said...

As a boy I had my tonsils removed under ether. When I awoke my own breath make me sick. Thankfully we have moved on to better anesthetics, but his work has allowed millions to avoid terrible pain, and allowed medicine to make great strides. BTW, I think this art nouveau bronze is wonderful.

CaT said...

im curious to see the entire grave! the woman looks interesting. did he choose it himself? or his wife... ? or... ?
dutch dentists still do procedures often without anesthesia. they say : lets try, and if its unbearable, we can always give you something.... filling a cavity once like that was sooo horrible, that i vowed never to get one again... (of course, that didnt happen, but anesthesia did, for me!)

EG CameraGirl said...

Kudos to Horace Wells!

Randy said...

Interesting tombstone.

hamilton said...

she looks as if she did not have a very restful sleep, which is not reassuring!
but thank goodness there were people who were willing to experiment until they got it right.

Unknown said...

I think the bust is beautiful! It reminds me of the face of the woman representing the Republic, both in Portugal and France. Great composition too, Jack.

RedPat said...

I think she is quite lovely, Jack!

VP said...

My respects to this pillar of modern medicine, I can't ever thank him enough!

Michelle said...

All hail to Horace Wells!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Ah yes, Horace Wells. Because of my work, I do know of him. Love the bronze which just screams art nouveau... Well, if it really did, we should run!

Bises,
Genie

Chrissy Brand said...

That bronze is wonderful, full of hope and memory too.

SeaThreePeeO said...

Beautiful bronze.

Beneath Thy Feet

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Honestly, as the man who made a visit to the dentist more bearable, he can have as many women on his tombstone as he likes. Well shown Jack.

Lois said...

I like her too! She looks to me like she is looking up for some kind of inspiration.

Anonymous said...

I appreciate both Valium and dental anesthesia .... so yes, hail to Horace Wells for the latter! This bust is beautiful!

SRQ said...

Nice capture, Jack. And, thank goodness for Dr. Wells' inventive spirit.