The Invention of Anesthesia
The Invention of Anesthesia — an illustrated inventions story, set in Global. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.
Page 1
"Jia, hand me the phone, please," Tara's mom called from the kitchen. Tara paused her sketching and looked up, her brow furrowing. "Mom, it's amazing how easily we ask for things like phones. Do you ever wonder who invented them and how people lived without them?" She grabbed her worn leather notebook and headed toward her room, already brimming with curiosity.
Page 2
Tara rushed into her science-themed bedroom, filled with posters of inventors and contraptions. Reaching for a large, ancient book on her shelf, she exclaimed, "Time for a journey through the 'Invention Encyclopedia'!" As her fingers touched the cover, a swirling light enveloped the room. "I wonder what invention is going to be revealed today," she questioned aloud as the room dissolved around her.
Page 3
Tara stumbled, landing in a bustling town square filled with people dressed in 19th-century clothing. A man cried out in pain as a tooth was extracted, another groaned as his leg was amputated. Tara covered her ears. "Oh my gosh," she whispered, her eyes wide with shock, "This is what surgery was like before anesthesia?"
Page 4
A kind-looking man with spectacles noticed Tara's distress. "Are you alright, young lady?" he asked, his voice gentle. "It's difficult to watch, isn't it?" Tara shook her head. "It's awful! People are suffering so much. Was there nothing to help them?"
Page 5
"Indeed, it was," the man said, adjusting his spectacles. "My name is Dr. Crawford Long, and I'm trying to find a way to make these procedures less painful. I've been experimenting with ether, a substance that can make people insensible to pain. It's been a long road, but I think I'm onto something." Tara scribbled furiously in her notebook. "You mean... you're inventing anesthesia?"
Page 6
"I first used ether for surgery on March 30, 1842," Dr. Long explained, gesturing to a patient resting peacefully after a procedure. "I removed a small tumor from James Venable's neck. He felt absolutely nothing!" Tara's eyes widened. "That's incredible!" she exclaimed. "So, you proved it could work, and people wouldn't have to suffer anymore."
Page 7
"It took many years for the idea to be accepted. William Morton later demonstrated ether publicly in Boston in 1846," Dr. Long sighed. "But my early work paved the way. He said that the demonstration led to the use of sulfuric ether during surgery, which would lead to further discoveries in the medical field. However, even now, many people are afraid," he added, shaking his head. "'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,' Franklin Roosevelt once said. And it is true!"
Page 8
Suddenly, the swirling light reappeared. "It's time for me to go back," Tara said sadly. "Thank you, Dr. Long, for showing me the power of your invention. Anesthesia has changed everything!" With a final wave, Tara vanished in a flash of light, leaving Dr. Long to his work.
Page 9
Back in her bedroom, Tara closed the 'Invention Encyclopedia' with a satisfied smile. She raced downstairs to find her mom and Jia. "Guess what I learned about anesthesia?" she exclaimed, grabbing Jia's arm. "Thanks to Dr. Crawford Long, people don't have to suffer during surgery anymore! Today, the anesthesia industry generates billions of dollars annually, benefiting countless people worldwide."
Page 10
"Imagine trying to get a cavity filled without it!" Tara said to Jia, who shuddered at the thought. "That would be something you could have nightmares about!" Tara chuckled, grabbed her notebook and said, "On to the next invention!" Who knows where her thirst for knowledge would take her next.
About this story
- Location: Global
- Audience: kids (ages 6–12)
Questions and answers
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