A snowbird shows photos from southwest Florida (Naples) and southwest Connecticut (Ridgefield) and New England and other places he goes.
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.
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 ...
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.
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!)
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.
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.
24 comments:
Thank goodness for him
Dental anasthesia is definitely a great invention, but I find that woman's bust a little creepy.
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 ...
The bronze woman's eyes make her look like she is either in ecstasy or in death's throes.
That seems appropriate to me.
Oh, I really appreciate that man's work. :)
Oh, thank goodness for him indeed!! I definitely appreciate his work!! Great post for the day, Jack!
wow the art nouveau bronze detail is beautiful! :)
Léia
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.
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!)
Kudos to Horace Wells!
Interesting tombstone.
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.
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.
I think she is quite lovely, Jack!
My respects to this pillar of modern medicine, I can't ever thank him enough!
All hail to Horace Wells!
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
That bronze is wonderful, full of hope and memory too.
Beautiful bronze.
Beneath Thy Feet
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.
I like her too! She looks to me like she is looking up for some kind of inspiration.
I appreciate both Valium and dental anesthesia .... so yes, hail to Horace Wells for the latter! This bust is beautiful!
Nice capture, Jack. And, thank goodness for Dr. Wells' inventive spirit.
Post a Comment