The first general surgical operation performed on an etherised patient in New Zealand took place early on the afternoon of Monday, 27 September 1847, at the recently opened Wellington Colonial Hospital1. The surgeon Dr JP Fitzgerald, M.D. was assisted by Dr GD Monteith and the ether was administered by JH Marriott Esq. Whereas the biographies of Dr Fitzgerald and James Marriott have been well documented nationally2, little has been recorded concerning Dr Monteith. The following article has been compiled in an attempt to prevent the life and contributions of Dr Monteith from slipping into oblivion.
NewsonA.J.New Zealand's first general anaesthetic. Anaesth Intensive Care1975; 3: 204–208.
2.
a) ScholfieldG.H., ed. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol 1. Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington1940; 1: 258 [JPF].
3.
ScholfieldG.H., ed. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol 1. Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington1940; 2: 55 [JHM].
4.
OliverWH, ed. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol 1 (1769-1886). Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington. 1990; 1: 128–129 [JPF]; 271 [JHM].
5.
List of Passengers.New Zealand Gazette.1840 May 2; 3(col. 3).
6.
Wright-St ClairR.E.Medical Practitioners in New Zealand 1840-1930. Wright-StClair, Hamilton, New Zealand2003; p. 271.
7.
ElwickG.The Bankrupt Directory: A Complete Register from December 1820 to April 1843.Simpkin Marshall, London1843; p. 287.
8.
Deposition.New Zealand Gazette & Britannia Spectator.1840 May 30; 3(col. 2).
9.
Editorial.Melancholy event (untitled). New Zealand Gazette & Britannia Spectator.1840 Aug 29; 2(cols. 2,3).
10.
MonteithG.D.Correspondence. New Zealand Gazette & Britannia Spectator.1840 Sep 19; 2(col. 4).
11.
KiteC.An Essay on the Recovery of the Apparently Dead.C. Dilly, London1788; p. 139.
12.
TrubuhovichR.V.History of mouth-to-mouth ventilation. Part 3: the 19th to mid-20th centuries and “rediscovery”. Crit Care Resusc2007; 9: 221–237.
13.
A Lecture on Tight Lacing. Punch1846; 11: 238.
14.
PereiraJ.Elements of Materia Medica and Therapeutics.Longman, London1839; p. 375–376.
15.
JohnstonW.Advertisement New Zealand Gazette.1840 May 30; 2(col. 1).
16.
DruettJ.Rough Medicine.Routeledge, New York2000; p. 51.
17.
Supreme Court: Watson vs Monteith.New Zealand Colonist & Port Nicholson Advertiser.1842 Oct 11; 2(col. 3).
18.
MonteithG.D.Advertisement, A Card. New Zealand & Britannia Spectator.1840 Oct 3; 2(col. 2).
19.
PowerD(Sir)How surgery came to Australasia. ANZ J Surg1935; 4: 370.
20.
GluckmanL.Tangiwai: A Medical History of New Zealand prior to 1860.Gluckman, Auckland1976; p. 113.
21.
Death of Dr Monteith.Wellington Independent.1862 Jul 1; 3(col. 1).
22.
WardL.E.Early Wellington.Whitcombe and Tombs, Christchurch1928; p. 36.
23.
WilsonD.M.A Hundred Years of Healing.Reed, Wellington1948; p. 14.
24.
MonteithG.D.Advertisement, Freemason's Hotel. New Zealand Gazette & Wellington Spectator.1841 May 8; 4(col. 2).
25.
Shipping Reporter.Shipping Intelligence: Sailed. Nelson Examiner & New Zealand Chronicle.1843 May 13; 2(col. 1).
26.
MonteithG.D.Advertisement, A Card. New Zealand Colonist & Port Nicholson Advertiser.1843 Jul 28; 2(col. 1).
27.
BreesS.C.Wellington Township. Illustrated London News.1847 Jan 16; 10(246): 37.
28.
Use of sulphuric ether (untitled).Wellington Independent1847 Jul 7; 2(col. 3).
29.
Inhalation of Sulphuric Æther at Wellington.Wellington Independent.1847 Sep 29; 2(col. 4).
30.
Editorial Staff.First Trial of the Inhalation of Sulphuric Ether at Port Nicholson. New Zealand Spectator & Cook Strait Guardian.1847 Sep 29; 2(cols. 3,4).
31.
MarriottH.J.Advertisement. Wellington Independent.1854 Jun 3; 1(col. 2).
32.
NewsonA.J.The contribution of newspapers and their advertisements to the history of colonial anaesthesia. Anaesth Intensive Care2006; 34(Suppl 1): 39–45.
