The History and Evolution of Anesthetic Care in Rwanda.

Although the development of anesthesia as a specialty and its practice in Rwanda have occurred postindependence, there are several contributing factors that have had an impact on the current state of the delivery of anesthetic care. European colonization of Africa, in general, and Belgium's control, in particular, are primary factors that have had a significant impact on education. The ripple effect has had a long-lasting impact on health care as well as other facets of present-day Rwandan society. Tertiary education did not start until the latter half of the 20th century and has left this country with the belated development of an educated population in sufficient numbers to handle health care problems and provide sufficient care to its population. This article will examine the history of Rwanda and delineate factors that have led to the current state of anesthetic practice.

An Examination of Horace Wells' Life as a Manifestation of Major Depressive and Seasonal Affective Disorders.

Horace Wells was a Hartford, Connecticut, dentist whose practice flourished because of his clinical skills. He had an imaginative mind that propelled him to the forefront in several aspects of dentistry. Unfortunately, he suffered a recurrent "illness" that began in the winter and resolved in the spring. These symptoms were compatible with both major depressive disorder and seasonal affective disorder as a qualifier. Wells' introduction of nitrous oxide as an anesthetic was also associated with self-inhalation. This led to periods of hypomania, followed by depression. With the progression to ether, then chloroform, there was an episode of mania in January 1848, followed by depression and suicide.

An Appraisal of the Life of Charles Thomas Jackson as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Charles Thomas Jackson claimed to have original ideas that led to the creation of guncotton, the electromagnetic telegraph, and the use of ether as an anesthetic. There was, though, a gap between when the idea was enunciated and when it became reality, with other individuals accomplishing the latter. An examination of Charles Jackson's life reveals a pattern of behavior that is compatible with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with an associated diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder. These diagnoses are explored in the context of Jackson's life to explain why he did not carry his initial thoughts to fruition.

An appraisal of William Thomas Green Morton's life as a narcissistic personality.

The troubled life and death of William Thomas Green Morton has been described in several texts. His first public demonstration of ether anesthesia was the highpoint of a life that was less than successful in many of his endeavors. Close examination of this life reveals a pattern of behavior that progresses from narcissistic traits to narcissistic personality pathology. This retrospective psychiatric analysis of Morton's life was undertaken to theorize as to why Morton, after having successfully demonstrated ether anesthesia, did not continue to develop anesthesia as a clinical specialty. Biographies about Morton were used to explore details of his life. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classification of narcissistic personality disorder was used to analyze his life. We conclude that Morton progressed from displaying narcissistic personality trait to disorder over his lifetime.