Valentine Mott and the Innominate Artery

Even more remarkably, these operations were performed before the era of anesthetics and the antiseptics era, and without the benefit of blood transfusions.

Dr. Mott spent the final years of his life in humanitarian pursuits. He died April, 26, 1865, less than 2 weeks after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

"By the use of anesthetics, also, the shrieks and cries of the patients are prevented; so that the surgeon’s powers are not additionally taxed, either to nerve himself to a very unpleasant task or to control and encourage the attendants."

—Valentine Mott. Military Medical and Surgical Essay (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1864).