In 1894 Harvey Williams Cushing and Ernest Amory Codman, whilst junior doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, developed a simple anaesthetic chart, see Fig 1.

Their intention was to improve the often basic care given to patients whilst under ether anaesthesia.

Question

What were these charts used to measure?

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In 1894 Harvey Williams Cushing and Ernest Amory Codman, whilst junior doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, developed a simple anaesthetic chart, see Fig 1.

Their intention was to improve the often basic care given to patients whilst under ether anaesthesia.

Question

What were these charts used to measure?

Answer

They were used to measure temperature, pulse and respiration. Dr Cushing insisted that these charts ensured a greater degree of concentration on the part of the physician caring for the anaesthetized patient. These ether charts were the precursors of modern anaesthetic charts, with meticulous attention paid to the patient’s condition.