Overview

The history of oxygen use in medicine can be divided into two long epochs. In the century following Priestly and Lavoisier’s report of the isolation of the gas, the use of oxygen in medical practice was characterised by largely ineffective, intermittent administration of the gas by several different routes in multiple unrelated conditions. This initial ‘dark age’ of oxygen therapy was followed by an era in which we gradually stumbled upon what, at the time of writing, we believe to be a rational approach to supportive oxygen therapy. As we shall see, the evolution of oxygen use in medicine is intimately connected with some of the major events in human history. This course is a starting point for a series of CME activities concerning the clinical application of oxygen therapy. A knowledge of the history of oxygen therapy will help you understand the origins and rational behind many of our practices today.

Estimated Time to Complete

2.0 hours

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

• Detail the key historical events in the development of supportive oxygen therapy
• Explain the origin of many of our current practices in oxygen administration
• Remember those involved in giving us this therapeutic option

Course Content

• Introduction
• The Discovery of Oxygen
• Early Therapeutic Misconceptions
• New Ideas from the New World
• A Critical Discovery in the Old Country
• Pure Genius: A Limitless Supply of Oxygen
• Lessons Learned In Flanders Fields
• Reaching the “Ultimate Zone”

Release date

01-DEC-2021

Expiration date

31-DEC-2024

Instructions for Participation

Watch the videos in sequence

Bibliography

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Partington JR. “The Life and Work of John Mayow (1641-1679): Part Two.” Isis 1956;47(4):405-417 [The University of Chicago Press, The History of Science Society] http://www.jstor.org/stable/226633

Priestly J. Experiments and observations on different kinds of airs. Nov 1775. https://archive.org/details/experimentsobser01prie/page/n19/mode/2up (free access)

Bray GA. Lavoisier and the Scientific Revolution: The oxygen Theory Displaces Air, Fire, Earth and Water. Obesity Research 1994;2(2):183-188.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1994.tb00645.x (free access)

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Illustrations by Imhoff HC. Account and illustration of the first documented case involving the use of inhaled oxygen therapy in the USA. (Inhaled oxygen therapy had been used by the French physician, Caillens, in a case of tuberculosis in 1783). Blodgett AN. The continuous inhalation of oxygen in cases of pneumonia otherwise fatal, and in other diseases. Boston Medical & Surgical Journal 1890;123(21):48-485.

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Various Authors. Discussion on the therapeutic uses of oxygen. Proc R Soc Med 1920;13: War Section https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?filter=years.1920-1920&linkname=pubmed_pubmed&from_uid=19981527 (free access)

Doctors responsible for the medical management of the survivors of gas attacks on the Western front discuss their experiences with inhaled oxygen therapy. Includes discussions of the role of oxygen therapy in the treatment of soldiers affected by chronic respiratory symptoms post gas exposure.

Petty T. A taped interview with Alvan L. Barach MD: pioneer in pulmonary medicine. Audio recording, New York, Breon Laboratories, © 1976 https://perf2ndwind.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Alvan_Barach.mp3 (free access)

Dr Alvan Barach interviewed by Dr Tom Petty (University of Colorado, Denver). Two key individuals in the development of oxygen therapy in the 20^th century in conversation. An excellent insight into the use of oxygen therapy in the early decades of that century.

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