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.)

    40/760
    pain-subduing properties of sulphuric ether; and hereby commu- nicates the fact to the Congress of the United States, and de- See p. 79. clares that his rights have been fully admitted by all the scientific societies that have examined into the claims of the numerous as- pirants to the honor of the discovery, and that, in consequence of this result of investigations of all the claimant's pretensions, the See p. 94. National Academy of Sciences of France awarded to the under- signed the Monthyon prize for the greatest medical discovery, and the government of France awarded to him also the Cross of the Legion of Honor,* and the King of Sweden the gold Medal of Seenote > Merit. He> tne undersigned, therefore, regards the question of 6129° G i>' discovery settled in the scientific world, and cannot but express his surprise, &c, &e. And, again, he begs that he may be put to no further trouble and expense in defending his scientific rights to the discovery. And, again, he begs that he may be allowed to pursue his studies and labors in peace, and not be compelled to spend his valuable time in waiting upon Congress, merely for the purpose of seeing that his rights sutler no detriment. Your committee being unable to perceive the force of these ob- jections, overruled them, and in the discharge of the duty imposed See p. 121. on them by the House, proceeded with the investigation. A mass of written and printed statements was effered by Dr. Jackson, tending to impeach the character of Dr. Morton, which the latter requested should be received, he being allowed time to produce rebutting evidence, and to adduce evidence on his part impeaching Dr. Jackson'^ character for veracity, and proving several cases in which he had claimed the inventions! of others as his own. This your committee rejected, deeming it wholly irrelevant to the sub- ject committed to them by the resolution of the House, and leading to a long and laborious trial of many immaterial issues. Their first inquiry was directed to the question whether a dis- covery had in fact been made, important to mankind, and in its importance and value to the American people worthy of national recognition and reward. The alleged discovery consists in the total annihilation or pre- vention of pain in the most, severe suigical operations, and in ob- steric cases, by the inhalation of the vapor of sulphuric ether. It is alleged also that the pain-destroying agent is innocent, produc- ing no injurious consequences to the patient inhaling it. If this be true, and it be indeed a discovery, its national importance, its importance to the human race, is manifest. Intense pain i« regarded by mankind, generally, as so serious an evil that it would have been strange indeed if efforts had not been early (made to diminish this species of suffering. The use of • The medal was given just as much for what Dr7 Jackson may haTe done as a geologist, as for anything he may have had to do with ether, and so waa the cross. See p. 1^9. f Magnetic Telegraph, &c.