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.
- William T. G. Morton
- Date:
- 1853
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.)
![He knew we]], if he thought on the subject at all, that but a thin veil separated the familiar and daily waiks of the faculty from the spot where lay his hidden treasure. Did he not fear that some one would lift the veil ? He knew it was but a step, and that a short one, from what was well known to the discovery itself. Did he not fear that some one would take that step and sewre the prize which he could then so easily secure to himself forever ? If he made the discovery in 1841-'2, and was not yet prepared to disclose it, there was reason then for placing in the archives of some European and some American academy a sealed paper, giving an account of the/acts observed, and the deductions drawn at the time, that this much at least might be beyond the reach of rivalry and chance. But was there any just reason for this when he committed the sealed letter above referred to to M. Elie de Beaumont ? The discovery was public and in public use in Boston for more than a month before that letter was written and sealed. The packet ship that carried that letter bore also the news of the discovery to Europe. What secret did this paper oontain, that it must be kept under seal until the next arrival from America ? Nothing, surely, which was public in Boston when the packet sailed ; public also, of course, on board of the ship, and which must be public over all Europe within twenty- four hours after she should touch the Liverpool docks. The sealed letter contained but one single secret not known over the European and American world, before it reached the hands of M. Elie de Beaumont, namely: that Dr. Charles T. Jackson claimed the discovery as his. And why did he not then avow it, and proclaim it, instead of requiring his claim to remain under the seal of secrecy till the next arrival ? His letter of 1st December gives the reason. It advises M. Eflie de Beaumont that the success of the newly discovered anaesthetic agent is complete, and directs him to open, therefore, the sealed packet, and disclose its contents to the Academy. He did so; and Dr. Jackson was forthwith in possession of the discovery in Europe. Until the finst capital operation under the influence of the vapor of ether, which took place on the 7th of November, 1846, Dr. Jackson had evidently no fixed confidence in its success as an anaesthetic agent. Nor did this seem to satisfy him fully. Six daye after this he sent his sealed statement to be deposited in the Academy at Paris, and not until many more successful operations had been peiformed under the superintendence of Dr. Morton, and until the last doubt of the incredulous was removed, did he direct publication to be made of his claim to the discovery. It is not to be credited that he had already possessed this discovery for five years, and knew its value and felt the enthusiam of the discoverer; that he held it and believed in it and rejoiced in it for five years, and yet, that no word or line was ever written by him or any one of his numerous confidential friends to him, or for him until the](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21142695_0096.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
