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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    demonstrated, but a general use was not made of it at that time, on account of its being more difficult to inhale, more offensive, and, as was supposed by Dr. Marcy, not so safe as the nitrous oxyd gas. The anaesthetic properties of the ether vapor and the gas, were not only fully known and appreciated at this time by Dr. Wells and myself, but by Drs. Ellsworth, Fuller, Marcy, and probably many other physicians and citizens of Hartford, and I am only astonished that any man or men could have had tlie hardihood to come forward, two years after, and claim for themselves a discovery which had already excited the won¬ der and astonishment of liundreds of the citizens of Hartford, and even called forth from Dr. Ellsworth, a distinct allusion to it, in an article published in the Boston Medical and Surgi¬ cal Journal, some time in 1845. Since November, 1844, the nitrous oxyd gas has for the most part been employed by me in my dental operations, as an anaesthetic agent, in prefer¬ ence to the ether or chloroform. The ease and comfort iciiJi which it may he inhaled^ and its entire efficacy, have am])Iy repaid me for the extra trouble of j^reparing the gas. In conclusion, I take occasion to express my opinion that, if Hartford had possessed a hospital, or the ample surgical fa¬ cilities which Boston possesses, that the discovery of Dr. Wells would have been more minutely and fully carried out in its details, in 1844. It must be remembered that surgical cases in Hartford, are “ few and far between,” and that we have, comparatively, no opportunities for the general or com¬ mon introduction of any article like the one under considera¬ tion. Boston, with its array of surgeons, its hospitals, its medical and other Journals, all eager to secure the credit of the discovery to the Athens of America, was the first city, after Hartford, where Wells communicated his wonderful discovery. There he met with a reception so cold, that after a single imperfect trial of the gas, amidst the sneers of those around him, lie left Boston in disgust and sick at heart, at the unfair disposition manifested towards him. I also further declare, that subsequently to Dr. Wells’ visit 4