Henry Edmund Gaskin Boyle
Encyclopedia
Henry Edmund Gaskin Boyle OBE
(2 April 1875 – 15 October 1941) was a pioneering anaesthetist
best remembered for the development of early anaesthetic machine
s.
, he was the only child of Henry Eudolphus Boyle, estate manager and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Law Gaskin, a member of the House of Assembly
. He moved to England in 1894 after schooling at Harrison College
, Bridgetown
.
, London. He worked as a junior anaesthetist at Barts and was appointed visiting consultant in 1903. During World War I
he worked with the Royal Army Medical Corps
in London, publishing over 3600 cases anaesthetised with nitrous oxide-oxygen-ether. His work was recognised with an OBE
.
Boyle promoted intratracheal insufflation techniques using nitrous oxide
, oxygen
and ether
, replacing open-drop anaesthesia. Initially he used imported Gwathmey machines from the USA, but finding them unreliable, he developed his own continuous-flow machines. His design included cylinders for the gases and a "Boyle's Bottle" to vaporize diethyl ether
. Until recently, an anaesthetic machine
was often referred to as a "Boyle's Machine
" in honour of his contribution. Dr. Boyle was a left-hander and anaesthetic machines available all over the world are designed with controls and switches meant for a left-handed user!
His other contributions to anaesthesia include the Boyle-Davis gag (still used today during tonsillectomy
operations) and a popular textbook, Practical Anaesthetics (1907 and two subsequent editions).
in 1923, a founding members of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
and an early examiner for the Diploma in Anaesthesia
. Since 2000 the department at St Bartholomew's Hospital
has been named the Boyle Department of Anaesthesia.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(2 April 1875 – 15 October 1941) was a pioneering anaesthetist
Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist or anaesthetist is a physician trained in anesthesia and peri-operative medicine....
best remembered for the development of early anaesthetic machine
Anaesthetic machine
The anaesthetic machine is used by anaesthesiologists and nurse anaesthetists to support the administration of anaesthesia...
s.
Early life
Born in BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, he was the only child of Henry Eudolphus Boyle, estate manager and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Law Gaskin, a member of the House of Assembly
Barbados House of Assembly
The House of Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament , MPs are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority system for a term of five years....
. He moved to England in 1894 after schooling at Harrison College
Harrison College (Barbados)
Harrison College is a co-educational grammar school in Bridgetown, Barbados. Founded in 1733, the school takes its name from Thomas Harrison, a Bridgetown merchant, who intended it to serve as "A Public and Free School for the poor and indigent boys of the parish".It thereafter has evolved into...
, Bridgetown
Bridgetown
The city of Bridgetown , metropolitan pop 96,578 , is the capital and largest city of the nation of Barbados. Formerly, the Town of Saint Michael, the Greater Bridgetown area is located within the parish of Saint Michael...
.
Professional life
Boyle qualified MRCS LRCP in 1901 from St Bartholomew's HospitalSt Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
, London. He worked as a junior anaesthetist at Barts and was appointed visiting consultant in 1903. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he worked with the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
in London, publishing over 3600 cases anaesthetised with nitrous oxide-oxygen-ether. His work was recognised with an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Boyle promoted intratracheal insufflation techniques using nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas or sweet air, is a chemical compound with the formula . It is an oxide of nitrogen. At room temperature, it is a colorless non-flammable gas, with a slightly sweet odor and taste. It is used in surgery and dentistry for its anesthetic and analgesic...
, oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
and ether
Diethyl ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...
, replacing open-drop anaesthesia. Initially he used imported Gwathmey machines from the USA, but finding them unreliable, he developed his own continuous-flow machines. His design included cylinders for the gases and a "Boyle's Bottle" to vaporize diethyl ether
Diethyl ether
Diethyl ether, also known as ethyl ether, simply ether, or ethoxyethane, is an organic compound in the ether class with the formula . It is a colorless, highly volatile flammable liquid with a characteristic odor...
. Until recently, an anaesthetic machine
Anaesthetic machine
The anaesthetic machine is used by anaesthesiologists and nurse anaesthetists to support the administration of anaesthesia...
was often referred to as a "Boyle's Machine
Boyle's machine
In medicine, Boyle's machine is the name given to the continuous-flow apparatus used by anesthesiologists to administer general anesthesia to patients in operation theaters....
" in honour of his contribution. Dr. Boyle was a left-hander and anaesthetic machines available all over the world are designed with controls and switches meant for a left-handed user!
His other contributions to anaesthesia include the Boyle-Davis gag (still used today during tonsillectomy
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is a 3,000-year-old surgical procedure in which the tonsils are removed from either side of the throat. The procedure is performed in response to cases of repeated occurrence of acute tonsillitis or adenoiditis, obstructive sleep apnea, nasal airway obstruction, snoring, or...
operations) and a popular textbook, Practical Anaesthetics (1907 and two subsequent editions).
Honours
He was president of the Section of Anaesthetics of the Royal Society of MedicineRoyal Society of Medicine
The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...
in 1923, a founding members of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland
The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland represents over 10,000 anaesthetists in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland....
and an early examiner for the Diploma in Anaesthesia
Royal College of Anaesthetists
The Royal College of Anaesthetists is "the professional body responsible for the specialty of anaesthesia throughout the United Kingdom". It sets standards in anaesthesia, critical care, pain management, and for the training of anaesthetists, physician assistants - and practising critical care...
. Since 2000 the department at St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
has been named the Boyle Department of Anaesthesia.