Alexander Wood (physician)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Wood was a Scottish
physician. He invented the first true hypodermic syringe.
The son of Dr James Wood and his wife Mary, Alexander was born on 10 December 1817 in Cupar
, Fife, and educated at Edinburgh Academy
and Edinburgh University (MD 1839).
In 1853 invented the first hypodermic needle
that used a true syringe
and hollow needle.
The much-repeated story that Wood's wife, Rebecca Massy, was the first known intravenous morphine
addict and died an overdose delivered by her husband's invention .
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
physician. He invented the first true hypodermic syringe.
The son of Dr James Wood and his wife Mary, Alexander was born on 10 December 1817 in Cupar
Cupar
Cupar is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is situated between Dundee and the New Town of Glenrothes.According to a recent population estimate , Cupar had a population around 8,980 making the town the ninth largest settlement in Fife.-History:The town is believed to have...
, Fife, and educated at Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
and Edinburgh University (MD 1839).
In 1853 invented the first hypodermic needle
Hypodermic needle
A hypodermic needle is a hollow needle commonly used with a syringe to inject substances into the body or extract fluids from it...
that used a true syringe
Syringe
A syringe is a simple pump consisting of a plunger that fits tightly in a tube. The plunger can be pulled and pushed along inside a cylindrical tube , allowing the syringe to take in and expel a liquid or gas through an orifice at the open end of the tube...
and hollow needle.
The much-repeated story that Wood's wife, Rebecca Massy, was the first known intravenous morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
addict and died an overdose delivered by her husband's invention .