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oai:figshare.com:article/34037367 2026-10-01T00:41:00Z category_31208 category_31226 portal_1005 item_type_6 month_year_10_2026

James Moore and a quiet beginning of modern regional anaesthesia Jun Parker (19563472) Peter M Reid (25147164) Biomedical and clinical sciences Clinical sciences Uncategorised value In contrast to the public spectacle of the Ether Demonstration in 1846, modern regional anaesthesia had a quiet beginning in 1784. That year, James Moore (1762–1860), a Scottish junior surgeon, published the first English book devoted solely to anaesthesia: ‘A Method of Preventing or Diminishing Pain in Several Operations of Surgery’. Using a purpose-made iron nerve compressor, Moore successfully anaesthetised the lower limb and completed a near-painless below-knee amputation with John Hunter (1728–1793). Similarly, he also performed the first brachial plexus anaesthesia, introducing the concept of ‘plexus anaesthesia’. Beyond this achievement, Moore’s 50-page book covers essential perioperative practices that are still relevant today. With the recent rediscovery of a Moore’s compressor in Scotland by the authors, this paper critically analyses Moore’s contribution. It reframes his narrative through frameworks such as the sociological tipping point, self-experimentation, anatomical analysis and collaboration, challenging the prevailing historical paradigm.<p></p> 2026-09-26T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 10.26187/deakin.34037367 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/James_Moore_and_a_quiet_beginning_of_modern_regional_anaesthesia/34037367 All Rights Reserved Restricted Access