Volume 2

Some account of the letheon, or, Who is the discoverer?

  • Warren, Edward, 1804-1878.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some account of the letheon, or, Who is the discoverer?. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    WHO DISCOVERED THE NEW PROPERTY OF SULPHURIC ETHER, AND INTRODUCED IT INTO SURGERY? Wm. T. G. Morton, the fortunate discoverer of a means of annihi¬ lating so vast an amount of human suffering, was born in the town of Charlton, in Worcester county, in the State of Massachusetts. He is still a young man, being but about twenty-seven, although few men, ev^en in a long life, have been able to accomplish so much for human¬ ity. Like most New England boys, he was, at an early age, thrown upon his own resources, to work out his destiny as he might. Wherever placed, however, he seems to have been equal to the emer- gency, always exhibiting the most extraordinary mental activity, with great diligence and perseverance. Having chosen dentistry for his profession, and determined that no one should excel him in his business, he at once bent the whole powers of his mind to his calling, and pursued it with a zeal which could but ensure success. On arriving at a maturer age, and wishing to give a greater range to his mind, he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Charles T. Jackson, and entered his name, as a student of medi¬ cine and practical anatomy, in the Massachusetts Medical College, where he manifested his usual energy of character in the prosecution of his studies, and particularly in anatomy. Having continued in attendance at this institution during two courses of lectures, he closed his connection with it, and returned fully to his profession, to which he has since devoted himself with the greatest assiduity. About this time, he enjoyed the full benefits of the instructions of Dr. N. C. Keep, Vice-President of the American Society of Dental Surgeons, with whom he was subsequently a partner, until the health of that distinguished dentist compelled him to retire to a less active business.