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

Preface

The writer of the following pages deems an apology due to the Public for the desultory manner in which this pamphlet has been prepared. The first forty or fifty pages were written some weeks ago, on the shortest possible notice, and were immediately put to press. At that time, no definite plan was formed, or could be formed, as to the nature or extent of the facts ultimately to be submitted ; and now, when these pages have assumed a somewhat formidable appearance as to numbers, it is found to be impossible at present to re-write or re-arrange them.

And, while but little order has been observed in the design, controlled as the writer necessarily has been by circumstances, still it is not deemed advisable, even if possible, to divest the pamphlet of that sketchy and fragmentary character to which alone it should make pretensions. The writer's main — indeed, his only — object has been, to state facts ; to arrive at the truth ; to serve the cause of justice. Most certainly, he has no selfish ends in view, having no pecuniary interests involved in the matter, receiving no remuneration whatever for his services and efibrts in this behalf, and only desirous that justice may be rendered to a person who, if he be not distinguished for his scientific attainments, is, nevertheless, a benefactor of his race !

With the learned and eminent individual who sets up counterclaims to the honor of this great discovery, the writer has been acquainted for the last ten or twelve years ; and, during all that time, there have existed the most friendly relations between them. Soon after the writer's attention was called to the importance of the new discovery, he called on that gentleman ; and it was the conversation that then and subsequently ensued which led to the opinion that he was not the discoverer, or one of the

PREFACE.

discoverers. From the impression firmly made, he then asserted no such claim; his only desire being to receive a certam (small) pecuniary interest in the sale of rights. Being anxious to learn something explicit as to the business arrangements of the parties concerned in the matter, he sent the writer to R. H. Eddy, Esq., and to Dr. Morton, for such information. Up to this time, the latter was an entire stranger to the writer, he never having seen him or heard his name mentioned, as he recollects, until this discovery was made known. So much for the parties claimant.

The writer has been accused of espousing this cause too Avarmly. To this it may be replied that, while the person who was at first only "joint-discoverer" was — by means at least somewhat equivocal — bearing off the whole honor abroad, no half-way measures would answer the emergency; and that nothing could comrteract this accidental and unfortunate state of things save the most decided and thorough course of procedure. And in this way, with the assistance of the full and ample statements of Caleb Eddy, Esq. and Mr. R. H. Eddy, (to which the readers' attention is particularly directed,) it is believed that a fair and just decision may be gained.

Boston, May 30, 1847.

WHO WAS THE DISCOVERER]

Galignani's Messenger of Feb. 18th contains a letter from Dr. Horace Wells, of Hartford, Conn., then in Paris, in which he claims to be the original discoverer of the fact, that the vapor of sulphuric ether, taken into the lungs, will produce insensibility to pain. Here, certainly, nothing is thought of these absurd pretensions, or only thought of to be ridiculed ; but, lest any should be misled in this matter, I herewith submit a copy of a letter from hira to Dr. William T. G. Morton, the real discoverer, written before the idea of laying claim to the discovery in question entered his head — an idea which was altogether an after-thought. The communications published in the New York Journal of Commerce, and used by Dr. Wells, in Paris, were written by a medical gentleman who had heard Dr. W.'s story, and who "honestly believed it. If Dr. Wells wishes to maintain his claims to his pretended discovery, that nitrous oxide gas will produce insensibility to pain, no one thinks to deprive him of the credit ; most certainly the discoverer of the new application of sulphuric ether does not. But this letter will speak for itself: —

"Hartford, (Conn.,) Oct 20, 1846.

Dr. Morton :

Dear Sir, — Your letter, dated yesterday, is just received, and I hasten to answer it, for fear you will adopt a method, in disposing of your rights, which will defeat your object. Before you make any arrangements whatever, I wish to see you. I think I will be in Boston the first of next week — probably Monday night. If the operation of administering the gas is not attended with too much trouble, and will produce the effect you state, it will, undoubtedly, be a fortune to you, provided it is rightly managed.

Yours, in haste, H. WELLS."

But, corroborative of what I have said above, and showing where the medical faculty of Boston bestow the honor of this great discovery, I will give the following note from Dr. Warren, the distinguished surgeon : —

" Boston, Jan 6th, 1847.

I hereby declare and certify, to the best of my knowledge and recollection, that I never heard of the use of sulphuric ether, by inhalation, as a means of preventing the pain of surgical operations, until it was suggested by Dr. W. T. G. Morton, in the latter part of October, 1846.

JOHN C. WARREN, Professor of Anatomy, and Surgeon of the Mass. Gen't Hospital.'"

I would also submit the following notes, which go, as I conceive, to show who was known as the discoverer of the I<etheon. They bear date only two or three vi^eeks after Dr. Morton made the first successful experiment, in performing a painless operation, ever published to the world, or ever performed by similar means. The earliest of these is as

follows : —

" Boston, Oct. 17th, 1846.

I hereby certify that I have twice seen the administration of Dr. Morton's application for the prevention of pain ; that it had a decided effect in preventing the sufferings of the patients during the operation, and that no bad consequences resulted.

J. C. WARREN."

The next in order of date is here submitted : —

" On Saturday last, at the Hospital, I removed a tumor from the arm of a patient, who had immediately before inhaled something prepared by Dr. Mor-- ton, of this city. The operation lasted seven minutes ; the patient gave no indication of suffering. She assured me afterwards, that she did not suffer nor has she, to the present time, experienced any inconvenience from the inhalation.

GEO. HAYWARD.

Tuesday, Oct. 20lh, 1846."

The next and last I shall give, dated two days later, is as follows :

" I certify that I assisted in the administration of Dr. Morton's Preparation to two patients, operated upon by Drs. Warren and Hayward at the Mass. General Hospital, on the 16th and 17th of October; that, under its influence both these individuals submitted to operations, lasting from five to ten minutes without suffering, and that they speedily recovered from its effects.

C. F. HAYWOOD,

House Surgeon Mass. General Hospital.

In a statement of this discovery, drawn up by Dr. J. C. Warren, and published in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, on December 9th, 1846, is the following : " Application has been made to me by R. H. Eddy, Esq., in a letter dated November 30, in behalf of Dr. W. T. G. Morton, to furnish an account of the operations witnessed and performed by me, wherein his new discovert/ for preventing pain was employed. Dr. M. has also proposed to me to give him the names of such hospitals as I know of in this country, in order that he may present them with the use of his discovery.''

And again in the same paper : —

" Two or three days after these occurrences, on meeting with Dr. Charles T. Jackson, distinguished for his philosophical spirit of inquiry, as well as for his geological and chemical science, this gentleman informed me that he first suggested to Dr. Morton the inspiration of ether, as a means of preventing the pain of operations on the teeth. He did not claim the invention of the apparatus, nor its practical application; for these, we are indebted to Dr. Morton."

He, Dr. J., claims only to have made a bare suggestion of the fact, that ether could be used in alleviating pain. But, as will appear in the affidavits of Dr. G. G. Hayden, Wm. P. Leavitt, Thos. R. Spear, Jr., and Francis Whitman, Dr. Morton had been making constant experiments for months before, with sulphuric ether, and only went to Dr. Jackson to procure a retort, or other apparatus, to aid him in his inquiries. If Dr. Jackson spoke of ether, it will be observed that Dr. Morton called on him at the time the suggestion was made, for the very purpose of making inquiries as to its effects on an India-rubber bag ; and, as I have already said, to procure some kind of apparatus from his laboratory, from which ether might be administered. Had Dr. Jackson made the discovery in question, why did he not give it to the world, and not endeavor, clandestinely, to wrest from Dr. Morton one in which he (Dr. J.) had no more share than many others ? Dr. M. arrived at his discovery by the best process in the world — an inductive one — and he is indebted to Dr. J. no more than to several others from whom he derived like accidental hints. The initiative was not made by Dr. Jackson. He did not come to Dr. Morton's office and request him to bring out a discovery that had been already elaborated by another. He never talked of any great blessing that he was soon to bestow upon the afflicted of his race. On the contrary, after weeks and even months of patient, persevering labor in making experiments, during which he gave up his business to another, let his practice suifer, and often endangered his health and very life ; and when hope had dawned upon his mind, and he could exclaim, " I have it;" when the greatness of his wonderful discovery seemed to have taken possession of his whole soul, and was, in part, apprehended by his keen, inquiring intellect ; after going to several distinguished philosophical instrumentmakers, Mr. Wightman, of Cornhill, and others, to aid him in an apparatus ; after all this. Dr. Morton went at last to Dr. Jackson, — not to ask him what would prevent pain in surgical operations, for that he seems to have been already in possession of, — but to borrow from his laboratory some instrument to assist him in making his agent available. Thus all, even Dr. J.'s best friends must admit, that the initiative in this great matter was taken, not by Dr. Jackson, but by Dr. Morton ; and to him future ages will ascribe the honor, and on his head lavish out their blessings for the discovery, so long as misery and suffering are known to man !

Dr. Jackson has an unfortunate mania for appropriating to himself the discoveries of others, — a kind of idiosyncracy , — which detracts very much from his great merits as a scientific man. For, by wishing to deprive others of the merit that really belongs to them, he injures his claim upon what is justly his own. A most unfortunate contretemps, of this nature, was the affair of claiming the electro-magnetic telegraph. In a note signed by him, and published in the Boston Daily Advertiser, of the 8th March, he says : — " Those who know me, I confidently believe, can never suspect me of wishing to appropriate a discovery luliich is not my own;'' the last clause of which I have italicized. Now, if this be so, how is it that Dr. J. so often gets into controversies with other discoverers 1 Whence originated the disputes about the electro-magnetic telegraph, gun cotton, &c. &c. of which the public have heard so much during the last ten years ? But I will not go into these matters in detail, contenting myself with a brief history of the discovery of the telegraph. And, so far as this goes to substantiate Dr. J.'s assertion above, I will freely concede it to him.

In 1832, Dr. Jackson, Prof Samuel F. B. Morse, Hon. William C. Rives, (then on his return from the embassy to France,) and Joshua Fisher, Esq., of Philadelphia, were fellow-passengers on board the ship Sully, commanded by Capt. Pell, returning to the United States. In a general conversation amongst these gentlemen, the then recent discovery of obtaining the spark from the magnet was the subject, in which conversation allusion was made by Dr. Jackson to the experiments of Franklin across the Schuylkill River, and along its banks. This allusion was made to satisfy the question asked by one of the party, whether, in a distance occupied by the coil of the magnet, (some hundreds of feet,) there was not an appreciable interval of time in the passage of the electricity. This distance, at that time, was deemed very great. Dr. Jackson alluded to Franklin's experiments, to show that there was no appreciable time in the passage of the electricity. This experiment of Dr. Franklin must have been familiar to Prof Morse from his youth, as it is to every person of even ordinary reading ; but it was thus brought up to his recollection, and the idea of the possibility of making electricity the means of communicating intelligence at a distance at once flashed across his mind, and, in his remark upon the fact, he observed that lie thought it would not be difficult to construct a system of signs by which intelligence might be sent by electricity. This was the first thought of his telegraph, which he immediately proceeded to carry into execution ; and the plan now in successful operation was elaborated, in all its essential characteristics, before the close of the voyage. Dr. J. had nothing to do with any part of it, nor did he give a single available hint which has been used in any portion of Prof Morse's invention.

A correspondence between those parties, on the subject of this invention, commenced from the following circumstance : — Prof Morse had completed his invention in its practical parts, and, in 1836-7, had it in operation ; and, two or three months afterwards, the first announcement of the European telegraph was made in the papers of the United States. To secure to himself and the country the honor of priority, he wrote to the captain of the ship, to Mr. Rives, to Mr. Fisher, and to Dr. Jackson, for their testimony to the fact, that he invented the telegraph on board the ship Sully, in 1832. All but Dr. Jackson freely gave this testimony, (which may be found in Vail's larger work on the telegraph, pages 1.52, 153;) but, instead of according his testimony, he surprised Prof. Morse, in his ansieer, by laying claim to be mutually interested (mark this) in the invention. In 1839, while Prof. Morse was abroad in France, Dr. Jackson had the courage — shall I call it? — not only to claim to be the sole inventor of the telegraph, in a publication made in the Boston Post, but he also sent a communication to the Academy of Sciences in Paris, in which he made the same claim, but of which latter fact Prof Morse knew nothinsr, as T am informed, till about a year since. He, Dr. Jackson, referred, for evidence in his favor, to the master of the ship, Capt. Pell, to Hon. Mr. Rives, and to Mr. Fisher. On Prof M.'s return from Europe, in 1839, he at once publicly called on Dr. Jackson, in the Boston Post, either to retract or substantiate his claims. To this challenge, made seven years ago, he has never replied.

The gentlemen, to whom he referred, each wrote Prof Morse, it appears, recognizing him only in the invention, and one of them expressing the greatest indignation that Dr. Jackson should have appealed to him in a matter where it was so notorious, on board the ship, that Prof Morse only had the least claim to the invention.

Such is a brief, but, it is believed, a correct history of this affair. And the striking analogy between this history and the controversy now going on respecting the discovery of the Letheon, will be most obvious. In the first place, from 1832 to 1839, Dr. Jackson seems to have thought his share in the invention, — or the invention itself, — of so little importance, as to pay no attention to the subject during seven years, and then only, when another and a most meritorious man had brought it to great perfection and into extensive use, when he steps forward and claims to be mutually interested in the invention. Not content with this, however, he next claims to be the sole inventor. And, to substantiate his claims, he sent, in 1839, to an American gentleman, then in Paris, a statement, directed to M. Elie de Beaumont, to be laid before the French Academy ! In like manner, in the face of the most positive assurances to the contrary, after Dr. Morton had given to the world the discovery by which painless operations may be performed in surgery, Dr. Jackson privately forwarded to the same M. Elie de Beaumont his claims to be considered the sole discoverer in this matter, and that, too, after he had, for some weeks, as is well known, clearly and distinctly denounced the whole thing as a " humbug."

And here, I wish to point out two or three statements of Dr. Jackson's, made public, going to show how little he really knew of, or had reflected upon, the effects of ether on the system, and how little importance he attached to his knowledge of the discovery which he claims to have kept so long from the world. In a letter, dated January

6th, 1847, and published in the Journal of Commerce, he says: "I

would also beg leave to call attention to the fact, that the effect of highly rectified ether vapor, when inhaled in the manner employed in this city, does not act as an excitant, but as a sedative of a most decided character, diminishing the pulsation of the arteries, and producing a deep sleep or stupor." In his communication, improperly addressed to the American Academy, he says : — " We are aware, that ether ranks in the pharmaceutic books and dispensatories, as a diffusible stimulant, and that its fumes or vapor produce intoxication of a short duration." And in a letter of his, now before me, he says : — " He" (a person before alluded to in this letter,) " imagines the effect to be merely excitant, or intoxication, while no such effect is produced by the application of ether vapor, such as we use in this city," — a statement, which seems to contradict the one above, in which it is said, that it does produce intoxication.

These passages are quoted to show, that Dr. Jackson really had no more knowledge of the effects and operation of ether upon the system, than was shared in common with the whole medical world.

And now, I come to a matter, which I would pass over in silence, did not stern justice require that it should be set right. On Monday morning, the first of March, Dr. Jackson published a statement in the Boston Daily Advertiser, purporting to have come from, and received the sanction of, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The same day at noon, the British steamer sailed, bearing to Europe a large number of papers containing this statement, apparently with the additional sanction of the names of Dr. Warren and President Everett. Now these gentlemen, being desirous of having a scientific account of the discovery in question furnished to the world, and believing that no person was more competent than Dr. Jackson to draw up such an account, addressed to him the notes bearing their names, little thinking that he was to make use of them to aid him in passing off upon the public a statement most erroneous and unfair, and calculated to do much injustice to a very meritorious and deserving man.

On Tuesday evening following the publication of this paper, the Academy had an informal meeting, at which Dr. Jackson was present, and presented a paper, already far on its way to Europe, bearing the fraudulent stamp of the Academy! This, Dr. Jackson read, and made a motion to have it printed, which was declined by the members of that learned body, and the Doctor rather severely catechised for making public a statement, as coming from them, which they had never before seen, or heard of What his surprise was, at the reception his paper and the course he had pursued in relation to its publication met with, 2 those present only know, and others must surmise ! It is understood, that the Academy are about to publish a disclaimer to this fraud or forgery, and to show, that they are not to be used to foist on the public an erroneous, or rather materially false, statement.

And it may be asked why Dr. Jackson has been known in the discovery at all, when he really rendered no essential aid in making it, and when, after Dr. Morton had brought it out, he so carefully and particularly repudiated it, and declared, distinctly, that he had nothing to do with it, nor was responsible for its effects. To this very natural inquiry I reply, that Dr. Morton associated Dr. Jackson with him in the affair, at the earnest request and on the advice of the friends of both parties, in order that he might avail himself of !he great scientific attainments of the latter in perfecting the arrangements necessary properly to bring his discovery into general use. At first. Dr. Jackson claimed no part of the invention, rather disclaiming the whole ; and after it had been several weeks before the public, he only demanded the trifling sum oi five hundred dollars for his whole interest in the thing, and was subsequently contented to be named simply as joint discoverer, in the Letters Patent, as a full remuneration for his advice and trouble in what had been done. This is the whole secret of Dr. Jackson's share in the discovery under discussion, all of which we shall be able to show by the best proof possible, namely, by Dr. J.'s own friends themselves, or by the one who was principally instrumental in bringing it about.

And I would not conclude this paper without alluding to a person, who has been, from the first, most active in making Dr. Morton's discovery known. I refer to Dr. John C. Warren. Since the great blessing in question was given to the public, he has resigned his connection with the Medical School. In his valedictory, on this occasion, he says : — " And here he might notice the invaluable means of preventing pain in surgical operations — a discovery which every medical man, and especially every practical surgeon, must hail with unmingled satisfaction." As it was before this school that he had often alluded to this discovery, defended it against hasty inconsiderate attacks, pointed out its vast importance, and thus given it his high sanction and aided in conferring it upon the world, so there was it most appropriate that, in summing up the work, which for a long term of years he had accomplished, he should thus have it in his power to say that he had added this new but crowning blessing to his labors. How appropriate that he should close his connexion with the Medical School, by aiding in the introduction of " this last best gift to man !"

Dear Sir, — Being about to prepare a brief history of the discovery recently given to the world, by which operations in surgery are rendered painless, I will thank you, in the name of a matter of great public interest, to furnish me with such information, in an authentic form, as may aid me in my

researches.

Respectfully, your obt. servt.

EDW. WARREN.

Boston, March 24, 1847.

Edw. Warren, Esq. :

Dear Sir, — I have received your note, ashing me to furnish you with a statement of what I know respecting the discovery whereby painless operations are performed in surgery, and, in compliance therewith, and in order to subserve the cause of truth and justice, I take pleasure in placing at your disposal the following account.

Respectfully, your obt. servt.

GRENVILLE G. HAYDEN.

Boston, March 24. 1847.

I, Grenville G. Hayden, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, dentist, on oath, depose and say, —

That, about the last of June, 1846, Dr. William T. G. Morton called upon me at my office. No. 23, Tremont Row, and stated to me that he wished to make some arrangements with me that would relieve him from all care as to the superintendence of those employed by him in making teeth, and all other matters in his office. He stated, as a reason for urging me to superintend his affairs in his office, that he had an idea in his head, connected with dentistry, which he thought " would be one of the greatest things ever known," and that he wished to perfect it and give his whole time and attention to its development. Being extremely urgent in the matter, I made an engagement with him the same day, according to his request. I then asked him what his " secret " was. " Oh," said he, " you will know in a short time." I still insisted upon knowing it, and he finally told me the same night, to wit, the night of the last day of June, 1846, aforesaid, that " it was something he had discovered which wiruld enable him to extract teeth without pain." I then asked him if it was not what Dr. Wells, his former partner, had used, and he replied " No ! nothing like it ;" and, furthermore, " that it was something that neither he, nor any one else, had ever used." He then told me he had already tried it upon a dog, and described its effects upon him, which (from his description) exactly correspond with the effects of ether upon persons who have subjected themselves to its influence, under my observation. All this happened in June, 1846. He then requested me not to mention what he had communicated to me.

About a month after this, about the first of August, 1846, Dr. Morton asked me where he could get some pure ether, and asked me to go to Joseph Burnett's apothecary shop, and purchase a 4-ounce vial full of ether, which he said he wished to carry home with him, he being about to leave town for Needham, where he then resided. And about the same time he explained to me the nature and effects of ether, and told me that, if he could get any patient to inhale a certain quantity of ether gas, it would cause insensibility to the pain of extracting teeth, and he tried to induce me to take it. Dr. Morton said he had breathed it himself, and it would do no harm ; and he at the same time tried to induce three young men in the office to take the gas. This ivas in August, 1846. He was continually talking about his discovery to me. From the time I engaged with Dr. M. as aforesaid, he frequently stated to me that he had nearly perfected every department in dentistry, save extracting teeth tcithout pain, and that he was determined to accomplish that also. But towards the last of September following, he intimated to me that, in some particulars, his discovery did not work exactly right, and, in my presence, was consulting his books to ascertain something further about ether.

Upon this, I recommended him to consult some chemist on the subject. Dr. Morton then sent Francis Whitman to see if Dr. Jackson was at home, but Francis returned, and said that Dr. J. was not at home. The next day, however, which was about the last of September, 1846, Dr. M. said that he had that day seen Dr. Jackson, and derived from him a hint by which Dr. M. thought he could remove the only remaining difficulty. Dr. M. said that, in his interview with Jackson, the subject of nitrous oxide gas and of ether gas, and atmospheric air, was freely talked of, as having an effect on the imagination of the patient, and various experiments which had been tried with these gases on students at Cambridge colleges ; also the experiments of Dr. Wells and himself together, with the nitrous oxide gas ; but that Dr. Morton withheld from Dr. Jackson the fact that he had been experimenting on either gas before. The same day, Dr. Morton told me that he had just tried ether again — in accordance with Jackson's hint — on himself, and that he had remained insensible seven or eight minutes, by the watch.

The first successful experiment upon any patient was made September 30th, 1846, by inhaling ether through a folded cloth, and on that occasion a tooth was extracted without pain. We tried repeated experiments with the same means subsequently, and they all resulted in total failures. Dr. M. said that Dr. Jackson recommended certain apparatus, which he lent Dr. Morton from his laboratory, consisting of a glass tube of equal size through, having a neck, and being about three feet long. This was likewise a total failure. So far, all our experiments, with one exception, proving abortive, we found that a different apparatus must be obtained, and it was at this time that Dr. M. procured, from Mr. Wightman, of Cornhill, a conical glass tube, with which, by inserting a sponge saturated with ether in the larger end, we had better success, and our experiments began to assume a more promising aspect.