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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    State of Connecticut, Hartford County, ss : City of Hartford, March 27, 1847. Personally appeared John M. Riggs, and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing affidavit, by him subscribed be¬ fore me. Given under my hand, and the seal of said city, the day and year above written. [£. 6'.] Given under my hand and the seal of said city. A. M. COLLINS, Mayor. I, John M. Riggs, surgeon dentist, of the city and county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, in the United States of America, being of lawful age, and duly sworn, do depose and say : That during the months of November and December, 1844, I made use of inhalation of nitrous oxyd gas, both alone and in conjunction with Dr. Horace Wells, for the prevenlion of pain during the extraction of teeth. I declare, that these experiments were repeated during these two months, not less than twenty times, more or less, and uniformly with entire success, thus demonstrating conclu¬ sively the ana3sthetic properties of this substance. I also further declare, that I was perfectly aware of the anaesthetic properties of the vapor of sulphuric ether, during the period above alluded to, and previous to January 1, 1845, and that I made use of the nitrous oxyd gas in my dental operations, simply because 1 believed theUf as I believe 7wiv, that this last named agent, was more efficient, safer, and altogether {)re- ferable to the ether vapor, as an anaesthetic agent, and not because I entertained any doubts respecting the pain-prevent¬ ing properties of the last named article. 1 also declare, that the properties of ether, as an anaesthet¬ ic agent, were frequently discussed by Dr. ells and myselt, during the months above named, and that from one or more successful trials, made with the ether, during the year 1844, by Drs. Wells and Marcy, its anasthetic powers were lully