Statements, supported by evidence, of Wm. T.G. Morton, M.D., on his claim to the discovery of the anaesthetic properties of ether : submitted to the honorable the Select Committee appointed by the Senate of the United States, 32d Congress, 2d session, January 21, 1853 / presented by Mr. Davis of Massachusetts, and referred to the Select Committee to whom had been referred the petition of sundry physicians of Boston and vicinity, in support of the claim of W.T.G. Morton, M.D., for the discovery of etherization.

  • Morton, W. T. G. (William Thomas Green), 1819-1868.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statements, supported by evidence, of Wm. T.G. Morton, M.D., on his claim to the discovery of the anaesthetic properties of ether : submitted to the honorable the Select Committee appointed by the Senate of the United States, 32d Congress, 2d session, January 21, 1853 / presented by Mr. Davis of Massachusetts, and referred to the Select Committee to whom had been referred the petition of sundry physicians of Boston and vicinity, in support of the claim of W.T.G. Morton, M.D., for the discovery of etherization. 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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    the remuneration hereby granted for and on account of the discovery aforesaid. And the said Circuit Court is hereby authorized to take jurisdiction in the said cause and determine the question to whom the reward shall be paid, by refer- ence to the principles and analogies in which courts of equity having jurisdiction of patent rights and other equitable jurisdiction proceed, for which said court is authorized to make all necessary orders therein, and to make a final decree, declaring which of the said claimants is entitled to receive the said reward for and on account of the discover} aforesaid. And from the final decree of the said Circuit Court made in the premises, either of the other respondents may appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, which appeal shall be taken, entered, prosecuted and disposed of like other appeals from the Circuit Courts in equity cases. Sec. '6. If either of the said respondents, after due notice and summons, shall fail to appearand put in an answer to said bill at the time that may be prescribed by the court, the court shall proceed and adjudicate upon the claim or claims of the other respondent or respondents who may have appeared and answered as aforesaid. Mr. Smith declined, on the ground that Mrs. Wells was unable to sustain the expeuse of litigation. I then, through Hon. E. T. Davis, Hon. Charles Chapman and E. March, esq., offered to Mr. Smith to advance to her in cash the means for such litigation, or to bear all the expense myself. This was declined. Mr. Hayes also declined. Can 1 give further proof of my fairness ? I am aware that a minority report in favor of Dr. Wells must, m the nature of things, come from your honorable committee. It is my misfortune to have for one of my judges an honorable sena- tor* who, in the debate on the 28th August last, used the follow- ing language: I pledge whatever reputation I may have, that if the Senate will allow me, at the next session of Congress, an opportunity to be heard on this subject, 1 will make out a case for the family of Dr. Horace Wells, deceased. If the subject shall then be referred to the judgment of a committee of this body, I will be prepared to make out a case worthy the most grave and serious considera- tion. * I denounce this attempt to filch money frcm the treasury as an outrage upon the rights of others, and a most abominable imposition on this Government. I believe that this Morton is a rank impostor—that there is no justice or truth in his preteded claim. I demand, in the name of justice and right, to have an opportunity to come before the Senate and tell the story of the wrongs of the poor widow and defenceless children of Dr. Horace Wells—wrongs which they have suffered at the hands of this man Morton, who has attempted to rob their hus- band and father, who has descended to the grave, of a discovery which is one of the most extraordinary made in modern times. It is scarcely to be expected of human nature that, though * Deposition of II. Cornwall, Esq., p. 121, Appendix. The Hon. Senatoi demands an opportunity of making out a case—for whom ' For clients of /lis. Speech of lion. Geo. E. Badger, in Senate. Aug. 28, 1852, Cong. Globe.