by KYW's John McDevitt
A new book is out about the history of America's first hospital--Pennsylvania Hospital --at 8th and Spruce Streets in Society Hill.
The book is called A History of Pennsylvania Hospital and was written by Inquirer reporter Kristen Graham. It’s 120 pages with all sots of pictures and stories of the hospital’s 257 year history.
Kristen says she enjoyed reading and writing about the surgical amphitheater -- it was the operating room from the beginning of 19th Century till about 1868:
"Surgeries could only performed on sunny days between 11 and 2 since the light was best then. There was no electricity, of course, candles were used and to do the surgery you had a choice of either being put out by a sharp tap to the head with a mallet or you could get blind drunk or you could use drugs."
A History of Pennsylvania Hospital is available at amazonbooks.com or in the gift shop at the hospital.
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