Reprint of the Report of the trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital, with a history of the ether discovery, and Dr. Morton's Memoir to the French Academy / edited by R.H. Dana Jr.

  • Richard Henry Dana
Date:
[1848]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reprint of the Report of the trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital, with a history of the ether discovery, and Dr. Morton's Memoir to the French Academy / edited by R.H. Dana Jr. 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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    E7* Readers who have not before seen a copy of the LIVING AGE, must not consider this nuin ien of the work. It is like it in size, and the number of its pages, but the !>Ie of contents of all the previous ! upon the Tin i| bo found upon the Although we are under the necessity of thus apologizing for the great space which one article occupies in this number, we do not think that the subject itself has occupied more room than it is justly entitled to. It is now engaging the attention of the whole civilized world. It has been treated in Europe as the great ry of the age; and Royal Societies and Academies of 6 itated by controversies as to which of the American claimants is entitled to the honor of the discover) In this state of affairs, the Living Age being published in the city from which the discovery uinounced, and in which it was first brought into practical use—and the managers of the Hospital in which it was tested having made an official publication, intended to settle the con- troversy—we felt that we had an opportunity of spreading the whole matter before the world in a full yet compendious form. The official report seems to come from persons who would naturally be predisposed to a favor- able judgment upon Dr. Jackson's claims. We are strangers to all the parties, but confess to a sympathy in favor of the gentleman who has (temporarily we hope) diminished his health and his fortune in maturing the discovery. Since the publication of the LIVING AGE was begun, we have had to mourn the death of three great men who kindly lent their aid to its establishment: Judge Story, Chancellor Kent and ident Adams. As this number will be seen by many persons who are strangers to the work, we copy the letters which they gave to it. Cambridge, April 24, 1844. Dear Sir, — I have read the prospectus of your proposed periodical, 'The Living Age,' with great pleasure ; and entirely approve the plan. If it can only obtain the public patronage long enough, and large enough, and securely enough, to attain its true ends, it will contribute in an eminent degree to give a healthy tone, not only to our literature, but to public opinion. It will enable us to possess, in a moderate compass, a select library of the best productions of the age. It will do more: it will redeem our periodical literature from the reproach of being devoted to light and superficial reading, to transitory speculations, to sickly and ephemeral sentimentalities, and false and extravagant sketches of life and character. I wish it every success ; and my only fear is, that it may not meet as full success with the public as it deserves. I shall be glad to be a subscriber. I am, very truly and respectfully, yours, JOSEPH STORY. New York, 7th May, 1844. Dear Sir, — I approve very much of the plan of your work, to be published weekly, under the title of the ' Living Age ;' and if it be conducted with the intelligence, spirit and taste that the prospectus indicates, (of which I have no reason to doubt,) it will be one of the most instructive and popular periodicals of the day. I wish it abundant success, and that my name be added to the list of subscribers. Yours, very respectfully, JAMES KENT. Washington, 27 Dec, 1845. Of all the Periodical Journals devoted to literature and science which abound in Europe and in this country, this has appeared to me to be the most useful. It contains indeed the exposition only of the current literature of the English language, but this by its immense extent and com- prehension includes a portraiture of the human mind in the utmost expansion of the present age. ,£ m J. Q. ADAMS? [Since Mr Adams' letter was written we have made arrangements with a gentleman of proved competence and high reputation ; living in Paris and enjoying the best political and literary society of Europe ; to prepare for each number of the LIVING AGE, a full account of the Poli- tics of Europe, and the Literature and Science of France.]