Etherton cottage, and the discoverer of etherization / By Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale.

  • Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879.
Date:
[1853]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Etherton cottage, and the discoverer of etherization / By Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    edly on Mr. Wightman, a philosophical instrument-maker, for tho purpose of procuring or contriving an apparatus. While examining his bags for inhaling nitrous oxide gas, the thought struck me that I could put the ether into one of these, and, hy making an opening to be closed by a valve fur the admission of atmospheric air, could convert it into an inhaling apparatus. Upon second thought, I had an impression that ether would dissolve India rubber, and pat the question to Mr. Wightman. He thought it would. I then put the same question as to oil silk. He said he did not know, hut advised me to consult a chemist, and named Dr. Jackson. I took from Mr. Wightman a glass tunnel, purchased an India rubber hag on my way, and returned to my office. I then sent Leavitt to Dr. Gay, a chemist, to ask the simple question whether other would dissolve In- dia rubber. He returned, saying that Dr. Gay was not in. In the mean time, I became satisfied that the bottle and glass I had were not large enough for my purposes, and, not wishing to go to unnecessary expense, I said to Dr. Hayden that I would borrow a gas-bag from Dr. Jackson's laboratory. He then suggested to me to ascertain from Dr. Jackson something as to the different qualities and prepa- rations of ether, with which he said chemists were always familiar. I approved of the suggestion, but feared Dr. Jackson might guess what I was experimenting upon, and forestall me. I went to Dr. Jackson's, therefore, to procure a gas-bag, also with the intention of ascertaining something more accurately as to tho different preparations of ether, if I should find I could do so without setting him upon the same track of experiment with myself. I am aware that, by this admission, I may show myself not to have been possessed by the most disinterested spirit of philosophic enthusiasm, clear of all regard for personal rights or bene- fits ; but it is enough, for me to say that I felt I had made sacrifices and run risks for this object, that I believed my- self to be close upon it, yet where another, with better op- portunities for experimenting, availing himself of my hints and labors, might take the prize from my grasp. I asked Dr. Jackson for his gas-bag. He told me it was in his house. I went for it, and returned through the laboratory. He said,in a laughing manner, 'Well, Doctor, you seem to be all equipped, minus tho gas.' I replied, in the same manner, that perhaps there would be no need of having any gas, if the person who took it could only be made to believe there was gas in it, and alluded to the story of the man who died from being made to believe that he was bleeding to death, there being in fact nothing but water trickled upon hie leg; hut I had no intention what- ever of trying such a trick. He smiled and said that was a good story, but added, in a graver manner, that I had better not attempt such an experiment, lest I should be set down as a greater humbug than Wells was with his nitrous oxide gas. Seeing that here was an opportunity to open the subject, I Baid, in as careless a manner as I could assume, why cannot I give the ether gas ? He said that I could do eo, and spoke again of the students taking it at Cambridge. He Baid the patient would be dull and stupe- fied, that I could do what I pleased with him, that he would not he able to help himself. Finding the subject open, I made the inquiries I wished as to the differont kinds and preparations of ether. He told me something about the preparations, and thinking that if he had any it would be of the purest kind, I asked him to let me see his. He did so, but remarked that it had been standing for some time, and told me that I could get some highly recti- fied at Burnett's. As I was passing out, Dr. Jackson fol- lowed me to the door, and told mo that he could recommend something better than the gas-hag to administer tho ether with, and gave me a flask with a glass tube inserted in it. I procured the ether from Burnott's, and taking the 18* tube and flasfc, shut myself up in my room, seated in the operating chair, and commenced inhaling. I found the ether so strong that it partially suffocated me, hut pro- duced a decided effect. I then saturated my handkerchief, and inhaled it from that. I looked at my watch and soon lost consciousness. As I recovered, I felt a numbness in my limbs, with a sensation like nightmare, and would have given the world for some one to come and arouse me. I thought for a moment I should die in that state, and that the world would only pity or ridicule my folly. At length I felt a slight tingling of the blood in the end of my third finger, and made an effort to touch it with my thumb, but without success. At a second effort, I touched it, but there seemed to be no sensation. I gradually raised my arm and pinched my thigh, but I could see that sensation was imperfect. I attempted to rise from my chair, but fell back. Gradually I regained power over my limbs and full con- sciousness. I immediately looked at my watch, and found that I had been insensible between seven and eight mi- nutes. li Delighted with the success of this experiment, I im- mediately announced the result to the persons employed in my establishment, and waited impatiently for some one upon whom I could make a fuller trial. Towards evening, a man, residing in Boston, whose certificate is in the ap- pendix, came in, suffering great pain, and wishing to have a tooth extracted. He was afraid of the operation, and asked if he could be mesmerized. I told him I had some- thing better, and saturating my handkerchief, gave it to him to inhale. Ho became unconscious almost immedi- ately. It was dark, and Dr. nayden he'd the lamp, while I extracted a firmly rooted bicuspid tooth. There was net much alteration in the pulse, and no relaxation of the muscles. He recovered in a minute, and knew nothing of what had been done to him. He remained for some time talking about the experiment, and I took from him a cer- tificate. This was on the 30th of September, 1846. This I consider to be the first demonstration of this new fact in science. I have heard of no one who can prove an earlier demonstration. If any one can do so, I yield to him the point of priority in time. I will make a single remark upon the subject of my interview with Dr. Jackson. It is not necessary to go into the question of the origin of all ideas. I am ready to acknowledge my indebtedness to men and to hooks for all my information upon this subject. I have got here a little, and there a little. I learned from Dr. Jackson, in 1844, the effect of ether directly applied to a sensitive tooth, and proved, by experiment, that it would gradually render the nerve insensible. I learned from Dr. Jackson, also, in 1844, the effect of ether when inhaled by the students at college, which was corroborated by Spear's account, and by what I read, I knew of Dr. Wells's attempt to apply nitrous oxide gas for destroying pain under surgical operations. I had great motives to destroy or alleviate pain under my opera- tions, and endeavored to produce such a result by means of inhaling ether, inferring that if it would render a nerve insensible, directly arplied, it might, when inhaled, destroy or greatly alleviate sensibility to pain generally. Had the ether that I tried on the 5th of August been pure, I should have made the demonstration then. I further acknowledge that I was subsequently indebted to Dr. Jackson for valu- able information as to the kinds and preparations of ether, and for the recommendation of the highly rectified from Burnett's as the most safe and efficient. But my obligation to him hath this extent, no further. All that he commu- nicated to me I could have got from other well-informed chemists, or from some books. He did not put me upon the experiments; and when he recommended the highly rectified sulphuric ether, Vie effect he anticipated was only