ETHER ANESTHESIA TAKES THE MAIN STAGE
On September 30, 1846 Jackson suggested to Morton that he try using sulphuric ether inhaled through a handkerchief for his patients, and Morton then proceeded to experiment on himself, experiencing an unconscious state for several minutes.
That same evening, Eben H. Frost appeared with a toothache and consented to an experiment. Morton was assisted by another associate, and a newspaper reporter was in attendance. The following day, the Boston Daily Journal reported on the extraction of Frost’s tooth “without giving him the slightest pain.”
After consultation with Jackson, Morton sought the endorsement of a noted surgeon who would employ the ether in a surgical operation before witnesses. He approached Dr. John Collins Warren, Chief Surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, who arranged for Morton to demonstrate his anesthetic in an operation that Warren was to perform on October 16, 1846 at 10 a.m.
On that day, Morton gave the famous, successful demonstration of ether anesthesia in MGH’s “Ether Dome”. The patient, twenty-year-old Gilbert Abbott, was seated in a chair while Morton gave the anesthetic ether. Warren then removed a tumor from Abbott’s jaw, who after the procedure insisted he had “felt no pain. . . . .” Warren exclaimed, “Gentlemen, this is no humbug.”
in the “Ether Dome” at Massachusetts General Hospital,
Boston, October 16, 1846
Following the public notice of Morton’s successful demonstration of surgery under anesthesia, on December 7, 1846, Horace Wells addressed a letter to the editor of the Hartford Daily Courant, outlining his experiments and experience with anesthesia and stating that he had met with Morton and Jackson while in Boston “both of whom admitted it to be entirely new to them. Dr. Jackson expressed much surprise that severe operations could be performed without pain, and these are the individuals who claim to be the inventors.” Wells’ letter also states he had preferred nitrous oxide over sulphuric ether for his experiments as being a potentially less harmful substance.
Morton’s successful demonstration was widely acclaimed. He was awarded an honorary MD by the University of Washington in 1852. No doubt with “dollar signs in his eyes”, Morton tried to keep the nature of his agent secret, referring to it as “Letheon” so that he could patent it and reap a fortune over the controlled use of ether. Many physicians on ethical grounds vehemently disapproved of Morton’s claim for a patent. Jackson also protested, but only because he also wanted to reap his own profit.
Both Morton and Jackson laid claim to the discovery of ether anesthesia, the latter receiving initial strong support in Europe, while Morton had the backing of Massachusetts General Hospital.
Morton became obsessed with the controversy and spent much of the remainder of his life seeking profit and engaging in unseemly, costly arguments with Jackson. Jackson in turn, claimed priority in the discovery despite official recognition accorded to Horace Wells and Crawford Long. He claimed that the discovery was his, stating he had been experimenting with ether for several years and had discovered that inhaling ether could deaden the pain of surgery. Morton and others fiercely disputed this.
Years of legal wrangling ensued, without any clear resolution. The ether row escalated into intrigue, deceit, and manipulation. Each contender took his case to the court of public opinion. Wells had been an abysmal failure at his one chance to prove his claim, and the public was well aware of it. The humiliation destroyed his life and mind, and his story would end as the saddest of all.