Mandarage (Datura metel)
(Bunkyo ward, Tokyo on Oct.13)

This plant is called "Mandarage" or "Chosenasagao" which has trumpet-shaped flowers in summer and is popular as an ornamental plant, but the whole plant is poisonous. On Oct.13 in 1804, a doctor named Seishu Hanaoka (1760-1835) surgically removed a breast tumor under a general anesthesia for the first time in the world and made a good job of it. The anesthetic used then was mainly made from Mandarage and monkshoods. Seishu Hanaoka repeatedly made animal experiments and in the end he also tested it on his wife and mother. It took about 20 years to complete the medicine. The story of Seishu Hanaoka involved in anesthetic development is written by a lady called Sawako Ariyoshi (1931-1984) The theme of the novel is a rivalry between his wife and mother who are eager to become examinees for the anesthetic to show that each devotion and love to Seishu Hanaoka is deeper than the other.

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