Memoranda relating to the discovery of surgical anesthesia : and Dr. William T. G. Morton's relation to this event, [Pamphlet 4].

  • Morton, William J. (William James), 1846-1920.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Memoranda relating to the discovery of surgical anesthesia : and Dr. William T. G. Morton's relation to this event, [Pamphlet 4]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of Doctor of Medicine from the Washington University above alluded to. In November, 1844, he entered the Harvard Medical School in Boston in regular course as a matriculate and attended' lec¬ tures for two years, expecting soon to receive his full degree. While pursuing his studies and practicing dentistry at the same time as a means of earning the money necessary to continue them, his attention was drawn vividly to the pain attending certain severe dental operations. The suffering involved made a deep impression upon his mind and he set about to discover some means to alleviate it. - Exp€Ttfyi€fits 'HpofL dfitfHCLls dfid upoft dtfHsclf. He read< in his text books extensively upon the subject, and finally began a series of experiments upon insects, fish, dogs, and lastly upon himself. Satisfied that his favorite'spaniel,’- “Nig,” had not been harmed by the inhalation of sulphuric ether vapor, even subsequent to a .state of complete unconsciousness,, he dete^r mined to inhale the ether himself. In his memoir to the Acadr emy of Arts and Sciences, at Paris, presented by M. Aragof.rin the autumn of 1847, he thus describes the experiment, and big next almost immediate experiment upon a patient A - - 'b • Taking the tube and flask, I shut myself up in my robm, seated ih’yi self in the ^operating chair, and commenced inhaling. T found theath:er so strong that.it partially suffocated me, but produced no, deci^ 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 thougM for a-moment I should die in that state and the world would only pity or ridicule my folly. At length I felt a slight tipgling of the blood in the end of my third finger, and made an effort to touch it with my thumbs but Vi'thdut 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 frona my chair, but fell back. Gradually I regained power over my limbs, an^ found That I had been insensible between seven and eight minutes. . Experiments upon others -—Delighted with the success of this experi¬ ment ,* I immediately announced the result to the persons employed ip my establishment, and waited impatiently for spme one upon whom f could make a fuller trial. Toward evening, a man residing in Boston came in,^ suffering great pain, and wishing to have a tooth extracted! He was afraid of the operation, and asked if he could be mesnlerized 1. Littell’s Living Age, March 18, 1848. ' '