History of local anesthesia

Abstract

The history of local anesthesia involves three separate inventions: the pharmacological agent, the local anesthetic, the syringe, and the hollow needle. Each evolved separately and has its history. They were assembled for the first time in 1827 as a syringe with a needle, and in 1884, in combination with cocaine as the first anesthetic injected locally. This is part of the Encyclopedia of the History of Dentistry.