An Edinburgh obstetrician, Sir James Young Simpson is famous for his discovery of the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic during surgery and childbirth. In 1847, whilst searching for a substitute for ether, known to have several disadvantages, Simpson and his assistants tried inhaling a sample of chloroform. Their immediate collapse and unconsciousness convinced them of the effectiveness of the substance as a sedative and painkiller, and within a week it had been successfully used during surgery. This photograph of Simpson features in a personal album. Collecting photographs of famous people was a common adult hobby, similar to collecting cigarette cards. It provided a lucrative business for studio photographers who often produced photographic prints for this purpose.