Dr Norman R. James was a multi-talented, highly accomplished clinician, teacher and innovator broadly recognized on three continents. In the United Kingdom, he served in London's Emergency Medical Service during World War II and was dubbed “England's foremost exponent of regional anaesthesia”. In his native land, he was the first Director of Anaesthetics at The Royal Melbourne Hospital with many innovations to his credit including a serious effort to reform anaesthetic practice in Australia. Dr M. T. “Pepper” Jenkins, the charismatic founder of anesthesiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, recruited him to Dallas in 1960, where he taught the art and science of anesthesiology at Parkland Memorial Hospital until his retirement in 1974. He died in 1987 and is buried in Winnsboro, Texas. A brief story of his life and career follows.
JamesNR, PaskEA. Ether convulsions; report of case. Lancet. 1940; 2:97–98.
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JamesNR. Regional analgesia for intra-abdominal surgery with special reference to amethocaine hydrochloride. London; J & A Churchill Ltd1943.
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KornfieldNB. Norman's War: World War II Photography Album, Archives of the Wood-Library Museum of Anesthesiology, American Society of Anestheologists, p. 21.
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JamesNR. Automatic machine for controlled respiration. Med J Aust1950; 1:325–326.
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WilsonG.The Royal Melbourne Hospital, a link in the chain. Presented at the lecture theatre Saturday July 26, 1986, Archives of The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
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WesthorpeR.Cover Note, The D.M. Anaesthetic Machine. Anaesth Intensive Care1989; 17:128.
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JamesNR, GieseckeAH. Economic aspects of trauma. Clinical Anesthesia1976; 11:97–100.
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MackayP. Dr. JamesNorman, the first Director. Presented at the Lecture Theatre Saturday July 26, 1986Archives of The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
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WilsonG; ThirlwellJones J., ed. One Grand Chain: The History of Anaesthesia in Australia 1946–1962. Volume 1, 1846–1934. Melbourne, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists1995.
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JamesNR, PaskEA. Ether convulsions; report of case. Lancet1940; 2:97–98.
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BostonFK, JamesNR. Rectal hexobarbitone soluble; useful form of basal anaesthesia. Br Med J1941; 1:5–7.
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JamesNR, BurgeHW. Improved method of regional anaesthesia in acute abdominal surgery. Br Med J1941; 2:906–908.
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JamesNR. Syringe adapter for regional anaesthesia. Br Med J1942; 1:611.
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JamesNR. Regional analgesia, examples of its advantages and some recent developments. M Press1942; 208:413–416.
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JamesNR. Infiltrator for regional analgesia. Lancet1943; 1:738–739.
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JamesNR. Machines for regional analgesia. Proc Roy Soc Med1944; 37:525–526.
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JamesNR. Regional analgesia for intra-abdominal surgery with special reference to amethocaine hydrochloride. London, J&A Churchill Ltd1943, 1945.
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JamesNR. Remote control of closed circuits in anaesthesia. Br Med J1947; 2:345.
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JamesNR. Anaesthesia-regional. In: CarlingER and RossJP, eds. British Surgical Practice. London, Butterworth & Co1947; 236–244.
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JamesNR. Automatic machine for controlled respiration. Med J Aust1950; 1:325–326.
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JamesNR. The teaching of anaesthesia, especially in relation to safety and resuscitation. E. H. Embley Memorial Lecture. Med J Aust1951: 2:33–37.
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JamesNR. Basic principles in the teaching of anaesthesia. In: Proceedings World Congress of Anaesthesiologists, Scheveningen, The Netherlands, September 5–10, 1955. Cleveland: International Anesthesia Research Society1955; 149–150.
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CassNM, JamesNR, LinesV.Difficult direct laryngoscopy complicating intubation for anaesthesia. Br Med J1956; 1:488–489.
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JamesNR. Automatic intravenous injections. Med J Aust1958 Nov 15; 45:666–667.
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JamesNR. A simple portable ventilator. Med J Aust1964; 13:847–848.
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JamesNR: Misuse of automatic ventilators in anesthesia. Annual Session Program. Texas Medical Association, May 1967.
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LopezG, JamesNR. Mechanical problems of the airway. In: JenkinsMT, ed. Clinical anesthesia. Common and uncommon problems in anesthesiology.Philladelphia; F. A. Davis1968; 3:7–22.
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JamesNR. Resuscitation in the medical curriculum. Proceedings of the Third Asian and Australasian Congress of Anaesthesiology.Canberra, Australia. 1970, Butterworths, London 1970; 555–558.
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JamesNR. Use and abuse of mechanical hyperventilation during anaesthesia. Annual Meeting Assn Anaesthetists Great Britain and Ireland1973.
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JamesNR, GieseckeAH. Economic aspects of trauma. Clinical Anesthesia1976; 11:97–100.
