The Scottish Surgeon Who Revolutionized Indian Surgery with Hypnosis

Dr. James Esdaile, a skilled Scottish surgeon, worked in colonial India during the 1840s. Instead of sticking to traditional surgical methods, he decided to use something quite different: mesmeric anaesthesia, better known as hypnosis. This change marked a significant shift in his career. Esdaile teamed up with local practitioners who were experts in trance induction. Together, they started a unique hospital in Calcutta dedicated to performing operations using hypnosis as anaesthesia. Over the years, Esdaile conducted more than 3, 000 surgeries with remarkable success. However, the hospital eventually closed when cheaper chemical anaesthetics became widely available. This tale highlights how medical knowledge can spread and transform across different cultures, especially in a colonial setting.