The novel by the famous Japanese writer Sawako Ariyoshi (1931–1984) is based on real events: in 1805, Seishu Hanaoka (1760–1835) was the first in the world to perform an operation under general anesthesia. The discovery of the painkiller was preceded by decades of scientific research; the doctor’s mother and wife participated in the experiments. Kae and Otsugi have much in common: both were born into noble samurai families, both married ordinary village doctors, both know what a sense of duty is and are ready to devote themselves serving medicine. But a desperate rivalry arises between the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law - each claims the main role in the life of the man who will make a revolution in surgery and glorify the Hanaoka family.