Discovery by 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.

Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Discovery by 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.

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    the least pain, and for eighteen months afler- Avards, heard no one mentioned as the discoA'er- er, hilt Dr. W ells. Mr. Burleigh, having learned that Dr. Wells had made the discovery that by the use of an exhilerating gas or vapor, he could render the nervous system insensible to pain, under severe surgical operations, and that he was using it in his practice Avith success, took occasion to he present and to Avitness its effect upon several persons during the operation of ex¬ tracting teeth, and aa as so surprised and delight¬ ed Avith its manifest success, that he desired a trial of it upon himself, and had Iaao carious teeth extracted from his Ioaa er jaAA , Avithout the least suffering on his part, though ordinarily, oaa - ing to the firmness AAith Avhich his teeth are fixed in the jaAv, he suffers extreme ])ain from extraction. Mr. F. C. Goodrich had also learned in the Avinter of 1844, that Dr. M ells had made this great discoAery, and Avas incredulous of the fact; hut having been present, by special invita¬ tion, and Avitnessed the apparent success ol‘ the process, he Avas induced to submit to a jiersonal operation to test its utility, and had a large, firmly set bicuspid tooth extracted, under the infiuence of the eras, AAithout the slightest sensa- tion of pain. Soon after, he Avitnessed a repeti-