Edward Henry Embley

Who was Edward Henry Embley?

Edward Henry Embley was an Australian physician who did important work in the study of the effects of chloroform on the human body.

Embley was born at Castlemaine, Victoria, younger son of Richard Edward Embley, a baker, and his wife Mary, née Smith, who both came from Gloucestershire, England. He was educated at Castlemaine Grammar School, the Bendigo High School and the University of Melbourne, where he graduated M.B., B.S. in 1889. He practised in Latrobe-street, Melbourne, and taking much interest in anaesthetics, gained the degree of M.D. in 1901 with a thesis on that subject. There had been various investigations into the question of the safe administration of anaesthetics, but Embley was not satisfied with the conclusions arrived at and made a comprehensive inquiry into the problem.