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To the Editor.—Having enjoyed Dr Southgate's discussions of the various JAMA covers, I found her analysis of the painting by Henri Gervex¹ and the comparison with the works of Thomas Eakins especially intriguing. Southgate mentions that in the works of Eakins "all eyes are nevertheless on the patient," whereas in the painting by Gervex, "on the other hand, all eyes are on the surgeon." I would submit that the illustration shows an exception—the gentleman seated on the patient's left side. This person appears to be intently observing the young lady, even holding her right wrist, perhaps checking the pulse. The object in his right hand might be a gauze pad used in the administration of an anesthetic vapor.

As an anesthesiologist with 40 years of practice, I fully realize the prime role of the surgeon in "the theater." However, I would hope that the anesthetist, as the guardian of . . . [Full Text of this Article]