Anaesthetic agents : the respectful notice, protest and memorial of W.T.G. Morton, M.D., discoverer and patentee of etherization : addressed to His Excellency the President, the honorable Secretaries of the Treasury, War, Navy, and Interior, touching the use of his discovery in the public service in violation of his vested rights under the letters patent of the United States.

  • Morton, W. T. G. (William Thomas Green), 1819-1868.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anaesthetic agents : the respectful notice, protest and memorial of W.T.G. Morton, M.D., discoverer and patentee of etherization : addressed to His Excellency the President, the honorable Secretaries of the Treasury, War, Navy, and Interior, touching the use of his discovery in the public service in violation of his vested rights under the letters patent of the United States. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    5ih. I believe that the medical faculty throughout the civilized world, where anaesthesia has been introduced, consider it to be one of the greatest boons thiC has ever been given to suffering man; and believing J)r. Morton to be its discoverer, I trust he will receive from the Gov- ernment a compensation commensurate with the immense benefit it has conferred upon the human race. ' ., I have the honor to be, very respectfully, &c., Hon. W.H. BissELL. Jx\0. FRED'K MAY. [Extract of a letter from Alex. H. Steevens, M. D.] New York, January 5, 1852. Without the slightest knowledge of Dr. Morton, or of any one con- nected, or claimmg to be connected wiih this discovery, and without assuming that he is mainly fhe discoverer, which yet I believe, i take leave to state.that the claim of scientific discoverers to reward is a strong one. * ^' The commiinity is taxed by patent rights for inventions to the amount of many million^-annually. The men of science paying themselves a part of these taxes, and bringing to light, by their unpaid labors, scien- tific discoveries from which (h6se inventions in a great measure take their risfe-, are left entirely, in this country, without any reward what- soeve?r.^'-iA Europe they are rewarded, besides that they arc supported by shfaWes attached to their niembership of scientific institutions. In vi^\v of these considerations, and looking not only to what is just as between science and government, but what is, in a very high degree and altogether beyond the appreciation of unlearned men, expedient, as respects the interest of the government, liberal rewards should be given for unpatented discoveries. VViih very great respect, 1 am, very truly, vour obedient servant. The Hon. W. H. Bissell. ALEX. H. STEEVENS. P. S. From an official connection with the tfiree great hospitals in this city, embracing about 3,000 patients, I am enabled to slate that a.nsestlietic agents are generally used in puerperal cases, in painful chronic diseases, in the reduction of fractures and dislocations, and in oilier capital smgical operations, many of which are rendered more successful, and not a few only practicable by their use. I consider it (he greatest discovery in niedicine since that of Jenner. It is to the healing art, what steam navigation, electro-magnetism, and railroad travelinf^, are to commercial and social communications. A. H. S. [Extract of a letter from Hugh H. McGuire, M. D.'\ Winchester, Va. • I regard ihe discovery of aneesthetic agents the most important dis- covery made in surgery for the last century. It is also entirely Ameri- can- for although attempts have been made for a long time to destroy 6