The ether controversy. Vindication of the [Massachusetts General] Hospital report of 1848 / By N.I. Bowditch.

  • Bowditch, N. I. (Nathaniel Ingersoll), 1805-1861.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ether controversy. Vindication of the [Massachusetts General] Hospital report of 1848 / By N.I. Bowditch. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/38 (page 8)
    and particular instructions from Dr. Jackson as to the use of ether, and how to apply it, and had actually per¬ formed his first experiments, why should he call on Mr. Wightman at all, and ask about India-rubber bags, and whether ether would dissolve them ] Why not take Dr. Jackson’s opinion on this point ? and, when Mr. Wight¬ man tells him to go to Dr. Jackson for definite informa¬ tion, what possible motive could he have had for not replying, “ I have been to see him a very few days ago, and he has told me all about sulphuric ether ” ? No, this internal evidence, of itself, would be enough to settle the question of priority as to these interviews. It is, then, a fact for ever established, that Dr. Mor¬ ton’s conversations with Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Wightman were before his visit to Dr. Jackson. Of course it fol¬ lows, that when, at this interview, he asked if ether were a gas, and said, “ What queer-smelling stuff’! ” he was designedly concealing what he knew. And what motive could he have had for such concealment, except that subsequently assigned by himself, viz. that he was seeking for this discovery, and Avas fearful that, if he made any direct inquiries of him. Dr. Jackson Avould claim it as his own ? * Now, suppose that all four of Dr. Morton’s Avitnesses, Spear, LeaAutt, Hayden, and Whitman, are perjured; that no demijohn of ether Avas purchased; that no experi¬ ments Avere tried from the contents of such demijohn ; still these tAvo statements of Mr. Metcalf and Mr. Wight¬ man prove, as I conceive, beyond a possibility of doubt, that Dr. Morton Avas seeking for this discovery before * It has been stated in the Hospital Keport, that the facts proved by Mr. Metcalf make it certain that the degree of ignorance expressed by Dr. Morton, in his interview mth Dr. Jackson, was assumed. Yet the “ Defence ” says upon this point, “We have to depend on Mr. Morton’s word alone.”