Joseph Thomas Clover

Joseph Thomas Clover
Joseph Thomas Clover
	Aylsham, Norfolk, England
Died	27 September 1882 (aged 57); 3 Cavendish Place, London, England
Occupation(s)	Physician, anaesthetist

Joseph Thomas Clover (born 28 February 1825; baptised 7 May 1825 – 27 September 1882)^[1] was an English doctor and innovator of anaesthesia. He invented a variety of pieces of apparatus to deliver anaesthetics, including ether and chloroform, safely and controllably. By 1871 he had administered anaesthetics 13,000 times without a fatality.

Clover assisted at surgery of public figures including

Edward VII (then Prince of Wales), Sir Robert Peel, and Florence Nightingale

.

His inventions included the bulky 'Clover's chloroform apparatus' (1862), with which he was often photographed; and the compact 'Clover's portable regulating ether inhaler' (1877), which remained in use well into the 20th century.

With fellow innovator

John Snow, Clover is one of the supporters on the crest of the Royal College of Anaesthetists

.

Early life

Clover was born in the town of

dresser to Charles Gibson, a local surgeon.^[4]

Clover enrolled to study medicine at

Joseph Lister (innovator of antisepsis) was a fellow student.^[2]

Career

Clover became house surgeon to James Syme upon graduation in 1846. He became Resident Medical Officer at University College Hospital in 1848, and was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1850.^[2] Originally Clover developed an interest in the field of urology. He practised as a surgeon, inventing two instruments for the crushing and removal of bladder stones. Ill health caused him to give up in 1853 and he turned to general practice.^[5]

He then worked as a general practitioner in 1853.^[2] He set up his practice at 3 Cavendish Place, London, which became his home until his death in 1882.

After several years in general practice he devoted his practice to anaesthetics, and became "chloroformist" to the University College Hospital, the

John Snow

in 1858.

Clover was probably present^[2] at Robert Liston's first operation under ether anaesthesia at University College Hospital in December 1846.

Clover wrote in 1871 that he had given chloroform more than 7000 times, in addition to other

British Medical Journal.^[7]

Important cases

Because of his expertise in anaesthesia, Clover was often sought out when important figures required surgery. He gave

Napoleon III of France on 2 January 1873, at Chislehurst, Kent, and again on 6 January, for a procedure to break up a bladder stone. The Emperor died on 9 January. Clover was a signatory to his autopsy report, together with five other physicians.^[1]

Clover gave chloroform to

Edward VII (who was then Prince of Wales) in 1877, for an operation to drain an abscess which was attributed to a hunting injury.^[1]

Clover also administered general anaesthesia to Sir

Erasmus Wilson.^[4]

Apparatus

During his lifetime, Clover invented and improved a variety of pieces of medical apparatus, especially those for easier and safer anaesthesia. Some of these inventions bore his name, including:

Clover's chloroform apparatus

Clover's chloroform apparatus was invented in 1862.

vaporiser

was no longer necessary, but the bag was large and cumbersome.

A dose of 20

minims (1.18 millilitres) of chloroform per 1000 cubic inches (16.38 litres) of air would provide a concentration of chloroform vapour of 2.25%. 30 minims (1.77ml) would give 3.37%, and 40 minims (2.36ml) would give 4.5%, which Clover believed was the maximum safe concentration.^[1]

Many photographs of Clover, heavily bearded, depict his chloroform apparatus slung over his shoulder.

Clover's ether inhaler

Clover invented his portable ether inhaler in 1877.^[8] Judging by the illustration on the right, it was much admired at the time. It remained in use, modified in various ways, well into the 20th century.^[10]

Clover's crutch

Clover's crutch was a device for maintaining the patient in the lithotomy position.^[2]

Death

Clover's health was fragile throughout his life. He died of uraemia aged 57.^[4] He is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. His grave is only 200 yards away from that of fellow anaesthetics innovator, John Snow.^[8]

Posthumous recognition

Together with

John Snow, Clover is one of the supporters on the crest of the Royal College of Anaesthetists.^[11] In 1949, the Royal College of Surgeons established the annual Joseph Clover Lecture in recognition of his contribution to anaesthesia.^[8] It was given annually until 1958 and every two years thereafter.^[4]

A memorial plaque on the site of his clinic at 3 Cavendish Place, Marylebone, was unveiled on 2 March 1994.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Sykes, page 8.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Rushman, page 27.
^ 1861 England Census. RG 9/72. 133: The National Archives. 1861. p. 7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Maltby, page 39.
^ ^a ^b City of Westminster green plaques "Westminster City Council - Green Plaques Scheme". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
^ Sykes, pages 8,30.
^ ^a ^b Sykes, page 30.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Rushman, page 28.
^ Rushman, page 57.
^ Duncum, 1947.
^ "The College Crest". The Royal College of Anaesthetists. 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014.