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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    personal operation, that I might test its utility. The Dr. was most successful—extracting for me a large, firmly-set bicuspid tooth, without the slightest sensation of pain. I also witnessed, soon after, a repetition of the same process, by Dr. Wells, upon several individuals, accompanied, in eve¬ ry instance, with perfect success. F. C. GOODRICH. Hartford, March 27, 1847. State of Connecticut, Hartford County, ss : City of Hartford, March 27, 1847. Then personally appeared before me, F. C. Goodrich, of this city, 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. This may certify that during the fall or early part of the winter of 1844, (I am not positive as to the precise time,) I was induced to try the experiment of having a tooth extracted while under the influence of Nitrous Oxyd Gas, which was performed by Dr. H. Wells, Dentist, of this city. Dr. E. E. Marcy, of this city, was present during the operation, and suggested to Dr. Wells, at that time, the inhalation of pure sulphuric ether in preference to Nitrous Oxyd Gas. He recommended it because it was more easily prepared, and produced, when used under the same circumstances, precise¬ ly the same effects, as Nitrous Oxyd Gas. The propriety of using pure sulphuric ether—the nature of its effects upon the system—were discussed at some length between Dr. Wells and Dr. Marcy, in my hearing. Dr. Marcy was very sanguine in his opinion of its effect upon the system—its capa¬ bility of rendering it insensible to pain under severe surgical operations, and expressed his determination to use the sul¬ phuric ether himself in a surgical operation which he expected to perform in a few days.