Discovery by the late Dr. Horace Wells of the applicability of nitrous oxyd gas, sulphuric ether and other vapors in surgical operations : nearly two years before the patented discovery of Drs. Charles T. Jackson and W.T.G. Morton.

  • Wales, J.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Discovery by the late Dr. Horace Wells of the applicability of nitrous oxyd gas, sulphuric ether and other vapors in surgical operations : nearly two years before the patented discovery of Drs. Charles T. Jackson and W.T.G. Morton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    State <>f Connecticut, Hartford County, ss: City of Hartford, March 27, IS)'. Then personally appeared before me Cincinnatus A. Taf't, who signed the foregoing affidavit, and made solemn oath that the same was true. L. S. Given under my hand and the seal of said city. A. M. COLLINS, Mayor. Extract from the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of June 18th, 1845. The nitrous oxyd gas has been used in quite a number of cases by our dentists, during the extraction of teeth, and has been found, by its excitement, perfectly to destroy pain; the patient appears very merry during the operation, and no unpleasant effects follow. Resolution of the General Assembly of Connecticut of May., 1847. Whereas, it being understood by this Assembly that Doctor Hor- ace Wells, of Hartford, discovered, in 1844, that nitrous oxyd gas, or the vapor of ether, inhaled [by] persons, causes insensi- bility to pain, in amputation or other surgical operations, which discovery has been most honorably noticed by various medical societies in London, and by the Academy of Medicine, and by the Parisian Medical Society in France, and has since been in use in England, France, and in this country; therefore Resolved by this Assembly, That the aforesaid discovery, by Dr. Wells, of Hartford, Connecticut, of the use of nitrous oxyd gas, or vapor of ether, in surgical operations, is of great importance to the public, and entitles the inventor to the favorable consideration of his fellow citizens, and to the high station of a public benefactor. Passed by the Connecticut Legislature in 1847. At a meeting of the City Council of Hartford, on Monday eve- ning, March 21st, 1852, the following Preamble and Resolutions were unanimously adopted: Whereas, the members of this Council have learned that a report is to be made by a committee of Congress, awarding the honor of the discovery of the use of anaesthetic agents in surgical ope- rations, to W. T. G. Morton, of Boston, and recommending an ap- propriation of one hundred thousand dollars to the said Morton, for the said discovery; therefore be it Resolved, That the design of this appropriation being to remu-