TODAY IN SCIENCE HISTORY
NEWSLETTER • 7 SEPTEMBER
On 7 Sep 1840, Thomas Childs Crowell was born, an American inventor from Cape Cod, Massachusetts whose invention ought to be a household name because his machinery made a very useful product that is likely in every American home. Even thought it came before Thomas Edison's incandescent light bulb, Crowell's name is virtually unknown, except around his home town.
That's a pity, because Crowell invented machinery to make the square-bottomed paper grocery bag that will stand open ready to compactly load far more groceries than the plastic bags that have nearly ousted it. Paper, please! Several such paper bags stand up together for transport in the car, too, without spawling their contents like formless, wimpy plastic bags.
But today's feature draws your attention to his curious first patent (of more than 280 in his lifetime). This article on Luther Childs Crowell, by your Webmaster, gives a short biographical introduction, and leads on to the patent drawings and description of an “Aerial Machine” that had some ideas ahead of its time for a VTOL (Vertical Take-off And Landing) airplane. He created his idea forty years ahead of the Wright Brothers' first powered flight, and even further ahead of any modern helicopter. Oh... well, no, it didn't actually work. But don't let that stop you from casting an eye at his innovative thinking. At the time he was thinking out of the box. Or out of the bag (which came with his next invention).
On 7 Sep 1922, Dr. William Halstead died, the American surgeon who established the first U.S. surgical school. He is regarded as one of the greatest surgeon in American history because he modernized medicine - introducing such life-sparing novelties as anesthesia, scrubsuits, rubber gloves, handwashing, sterlized instruments, even while the medical establishment strenuously resisted his innovations. Today's book pick is: Genius on the Edge: The Bizarre Double Life of Dr. William Stewart Halsted, by Gerald Imber who also introduces how Halstead explored various methods of anesthesia, with self-experimentation, including with the then recently discovered drug, cocaine. He became addicted. Nevertheless, he was able to not only function but also continue a brilliant career. The intrigue-filled and intense strangeness of Halsted’s career is laid out by the author in a gripping story. Gerald Imber has captured in one grisly sweep the barbarism of both early surgery and the manure-trodden streets it grew from.
It is available from Amazon, typically about New from $35.00. Used from $5.00. (As of earlier time of writing - subject to change.)
 | In general, the more one augments the number of divisions of the productions of nature, the more one approaches the truth, since in nature only individuals exist, while genera, orders, and classes only exist in our imagination. — Comte Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon, French naturalist (born 7 Sep 1707).  |
 | The only weapon with which the unconscious patient can immediately retaliate upon the incompetent surgeon is hemorrhage. — William Stewart Halsted, American surgeon (died 7 Sep 1922). |
 | Take risks. Ask big questions. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; if you don't make mistakes, you're not reaching far enough. — David Packard, American entrepreneur and electrical engineer (born 7 Sep 1912). |
 | Success is achievable without public recognition, and the world has many unsung heroes. The teacher who inspires you to pursue your education to your ultimate ability is a success. The parents who taught you the noblest human principles are a success. The coach who shows you the importance of teamwork is a success. The spiritual leader who instills in you spiritual values and faith is a success. The relatives, friends, and neighbors with whom you develop a reciprocal relationship of respect and support - they, too, are successes. The most menial workers can properly consider themselves successful if they perform their best and if the product of their work is of service to humanity. — Michael Ellis DeBakey, , American physician and surgeon (born 7 Sep 1908). |
| Before you look at today's web page, see if you can answer some of these questions about the events that happened on this day. Some of the names are very familiar. Others will likely stump you. Tickle your curiosity with these questions, then check your answers on today's web page. | |
| Births | |
 | An American physicist, born 7 Sep 1914, discovered radiation belts, two zones of radiation encircling the Earth, and brought about new understanding of cosmic radiation and its effects upon the Earth. What is the name of the physicist after whom these radiation belts are named? |
 | (Friedrich) August Kekulé von Stradonitz was born 7 Sep 1829. He had intended to be an architect when he entered the University of Giessen but changed his career goals. What was his career field? |
| Deaths | |
 | Jan Ingenhousz (1730-1799) was a Dutch physician and biochemist. What is his best known discovery? |
 | Percy Spencer (1894-1970) is credited as the American engineer who invented the microwave oven. It was the outcome of his experiments at Raytheon with a device originally used during World War II for producing radar microwaves. What is the name of the microwave-producing component? |
| Events | |
 | On 7 Sep of a certain year, Edith Eleanor McLean became the first baby to be placed in an incubator. She weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces. Originally, the incubator was called a “hatching cradle.” What was the decade of this event? |
Fast answers for the previous newsletter for September 6: caesium • atomic theory • smokeless (so battles were not obscured by smoke clouds of gunpowder weapons) • Jeep • decade of 1879 • it was a German V-2 rocket captured in WW II.
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