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Inspired by ancient herbal formulas, Seishu Hanaoka spent seven years developing his general anesthetic. He was walking a tightrope: not far enough and the patient would wake up in the middle of the operation; too far and the patient would be injured or dead. Hanaoka's vision to integrate traditional Chinese medicine and modern western surgery - seemingly opposite styles - was one of the keys to his success. On the morning of October 13, 1804, the time came to put his invention to the test. A brave woman with breast cancer was willing to take a chance with the surgeon's knife and the mysterious mixture . . .

*****

Emily Bunker is a particularly lucid writer. She brings together the strands of the history of the field and weaves them into a wonderfully available tapestry. It is truly an art to demystify a new field of study, and she has presented this one with amazing clarity. . . . Hanaoka comes through as such a humble, honorable man. His emphasis on individualizing care for each patient completely flies in the face of the "cookie-cutter" medicine that passes for primary care now. . . . It sounds as though he was not just a phenomenally-skilled anesthesiologist and surgeon for his day, but also a true healer.

David Dansky, MD, FACEP (Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians)

This fascinating and well-written book tells the story of a Japanese physician, Seishu Hanaoka, who used ancient herbal formulas to create the first successful anesthesia cocktail in Japan. His work was risky and experimental, but offered hope to people who needed surgery in the early part of the nineteenth century. . . . The story, which includes drawings of the herbs used by Hanaoka, is well told in laymen's terms and will appeal to readers who are interested in history, medicine and Japanese culture.

Susan Howe, Rehabilitation Counselor