The invention of anæsthetic inhalation, or, "Discovery of anæsthesia." / by William J. Morton.

  • Morton, William J. (William James), 1846-1920.
Date:
1880
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The invention of anæsthetic inhalation, or, "Discovery of anæsthesia." / by William J. Morton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    circumstances, a mutual award would be a sacrilege and a be¬ trayal. There is yet another monument, a simple marble shaft,, erected in Mount Auburn Cemetery by citizens* of Boston. From its surface is reflected the verdict of posterity. Upon its four faces may be read this inscription: UW. T. G. Morton. Inventor and Revealer of Anesthetic Inhala¬ tion. Before whom in all time Surgery was Agony. By whom Pain in Surgery was averted and annulled. Since whom Science has Control of Pain.” f Summary. I. Universal practical Anaesthesia by inhalation began in 1846. Before this date, pain in medicine and surgery was in¬ evitable. After this date, pain was avoidable, safely, efficient¬ ly, and consecutively. Thus voluntary escape from pain formed an epoch in the world’s history, dating from 1846—an epoch marked by a striking revolution in medicine, and by inexpressible relief to the human race. This epoch owed its birth to the revelation made to the world that sulphuric ether, properly managed, would produce complete insensibility to pain, This revelation was made by Dr. W. T. G. Morton, of Boston. He issued the new facts. Immediate adoption and practice were a conse¬ quence of his announcement. The world’s knowledge of the subject came from him. The very word was coined to meet his new facts. II. After-cl aim ants now arose, none of whom before this date (1846) had made any printed or written claim before scientific societies or the general or medical public of ever having discovered anything in regard to Anaesthesia. These claims were after-thoughts, born of ether’s success in Dr. Morton’s hands. III. The first after-claimant was Dr. 0. T. Jackson, of Boston. Ilis claim was that of suggestive science. He claimed to have said, “ Try ether.” The knowledge conveyed in this * A tribute of respect and gratitude from names the most honored and most respected in Boston. f This inscription was written by the late Dr. Jacob Bigelow.