TREATISE

            ON THE

INHALATION OF ETHER

            FOR THE

   PREVENTION OF PAIN.
BY MAYO G. SMITH.
   BOSTON:
J. P. JEWETT & CO.
      1848. 
       Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1647, by
                         Mayo G. Smith,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
/r.«/C,   yfrv      "*"   J
             BOSTON:
Dickinson Printing House---Damrell & MoOre,
      No. 62 Washington Street. 
PREFACE.
   The  interest felt in the subject of ethereal inhala-
tion, and the demand for  information  concerning the
history, safely, and  process of its administration, as a
lethean for painless surgical  operations, has induced
the author to give  publicity to such facts and obser-
vations concerning this pain-obliterating agent as  he
has been able to collect from various  sources, and to
make known the results of its use in his own prac-
tice, and its varied  effects on  the system, and to sug-
gest the manner, in which the patient, through its ad-
ministration, may be  conducted to a favorable and
happy issue.  For  some important facts and sugges-
tions, the author is indebted to  the  British Foreign
Review, the Boston  Medical and Surgical Journal
Prof. Simpson, of London,  Profs. Warren, Hayward,
and  Channing, of  Massachusetts  Medical  College,
Prof.  Jackson, Drs.  Morton and  G. G. Hayden, and
others. 
  Errata. —The explanation under Fig. 2, page 42, belongs under Fig. 3,
page 43, where it should have been inserted. 
INHALATION   OF   ETHER.
                 CHAPTER   I.

Contents. — Introduction of the lethean.  Observations of Davy, Brodie,
  and others. Effects of ether.  Drs. Jackson and Morton's claims to the
  discovery.  Dr. Horace  Wells's opposition.  Nitrous oxide.  Dr. J. C.
  Warren's  testimony.  Objections  to the use of ether considered.  Dr.
  Kissam. Properties of ether.  Its  introduction into Europe.  Profs. Mil-
  ler and Syme.  The lethean tested.  Ether in verterinary practice.  Ap-
  paratus for administering it. Directions for use.  Ether in certain com-
  plaints.  Advantages of ether.  Usual effects.

           INTRODUCTON OF  THE LETHEAN.
   Since  the first introduction of the Lethean to  the
public, by Dr. Morton, of Boston, in September, 1846,
it has been the  subject of  much discussion, involving
much personal and  professional feeling, and is still  re-
jected by some, cautiously entertained and suspicious-
ly examined by others, but  hailed with joy by the mass
of the people ;  and many of the most scientific and  ex-
perienced surgeons and dentists of this  country and
Europe unite in feelings of gratitude and thankfulness
to the discoverer of a process  by which the infliction
of pain and the endurance  of suffering may be avoided.
               B 
6
EXPERIMENTS IN VAPORS.
  But as there  exists a difference of opinion on this
subject, we shall impartially examine it, and weigh the
principal objections  which have  been urged against
the  use  of  ether.   It will  be our present endeavor
to ascertain with certainty, whether this apparent good
be one in fact, — a  positive evil  in disguise, — or of
doubtful utility.  And in order to  do  this, we shall go
back  to  the first experiments  with ethereal and other
vapors ; trace the  history of experiment on the subject
of inhalations as medicinal  agents,  and by a  vast
amount of facts which have come to our knowledge
from  other sources — not  a few  by  our own experi-
ence— endeavor to  establish  the  true  value of this
pain-obliterating agent.
  It is not, perhaps, known to some,  that the idea of
inhaling  ethereal and other vapors has been recom-
mended  and adopted occasionally for medicinal and
other purposes.
  " Medicated inhalation has often been directed to the
amelioration of various pulmonary affections, with in-
different  success.  Instruments called Inhalers  were
employed long ago, by Mudge, Gairdner, and Darwin ;
and the apparatus fitted up by Dr. Beddoes  and Mr.
James Watt, for respiring various gases, has given birth
to some octavo  volumes.   More recently, Sir Charles
Scudamore has advocated  the inhalation of iodine and
conium in phthisis, and the vapor of tar has often been
inhaled in the same disease.   The effects of stramoni-
um, thus administered, have been noticed by Sigmond.
  "The inhalation of the ethers has been recommended
in various maladies, among which may be mentioned 
EXPERIMENTS  IN  VAPORS.
7
 phthisis and asthma.  " On sait que la respiration de
 l'ether sulfurique calme souvent les accidents nerveux
 de certains croups."^
   I find that mention of the inhalation of this agent is
 usually  coupled  with a caution  against  its abuse,
 grounded apparently upon  two or three cases, quoted
 and requoted.   Of these the first is from Brande's Jour-
 nal of Science, where it is thus reported : — " By im-
 prudent respiration of sulphuric  ether, a  gentleman
 was thrown into a very lethargic state, which  continu-
 ed from one to  three  hours, with occasional intermis-
 sions and great depression of spirits — the pulse being
 for many days so low that considerable fears were en-
 tertained for his life."   Christison quotes the following
 from the  Midland  Med. and  Surg. Journal, to  prove
 that nitric ether in vapor is a  dangerous poison when
 too freely and too long inhaled : — "A druggist's maid
 servant was found one morning dead in bed ; and death
 had evidently  arisen  from the  air of  her  apartment
 having been accidentally  loaded with vapor of nitric
 ether, from  the  breaking of a three gallon jar of the
 Spiritus  JEih. Nitric. She was found lying on her
 side, with her arms folded  across her chest, the counte-
 nance and posture composed,  and the  whole appear-
 ance like a person in a deep sleep.  The stomach was
 red internally, and the lungs were gorged."  The editor
 of the journal in which this case is related, says he is
 acquainted with another instance, where a young man
was  found  completely insensible  from breathing air

  * We know that the respiration of sulphuric ether will quiet the nervous-
ness attending certain diseases of children. — Die. des Sc. Med. 
8
EXPERIMENTS IN VAPORS.
loaded  with sulphuric ether, remained  apoplectic for
some hours, and would undoubtedly have  perished
had he not been  discovered and  removed  in time.
Ether is now very commonly administered internally
as a diffusible  stimulant and antispasmodic, in a dose
of one or two drachms.  But here,  also, we have the
evidence of a few experiments, that  ether is capable of
producing  grave results under  certain circumstances.
Orfila killed a dog by confining a small quantity in the
stomach by means of a ligature around the  oesopha-
gus.  Jager found that gss. acted as  a fatal poison to
a crane.  It was for a long  time supposed to  be inju-
rious to the animal economy.  The old Edinburgh
Dispensatory, republished here in 1816, explicitly states
that it is to be inhaled by holding in  the mouth a piece
of sugar, containing a few drops, and also that regular
practitioners give only a few drops for a dose; " though,"
it adds,  " empirics  have sometimes  ventured upon
much larger quantities, and  with incredible benefit."
p. 566.  Nevertheless, it was known to have been tak-
en in correspondingly large doses with impunity. The
chemist Bucquet, who died of  scirrhus  of  the colon,
with inflammation of the stomach and intestines, took
before  his  death a  pint of ether daily, to alleviate
pain (he also took 100 grs. of opium daily); — and
Christison  mentions  an old gentleman  who consum-
ed for many years gxvi. every eight or ten days. Such
facts probably led  Merat and De Lens, in their Ma-
tiere Medicale, to question its grave effects when swal-
lowed.   Mentioning the case of Bucquet, they say,
even of its inhalation, that it produces only « un senti- 
EXPERIMENTS IN VAPORS.
9
ment de fraicheur  que suit bientot une legere excita-
tion."*
  " This variety of evidence tends  to show that the
knowledge  of its  effects, especially  those of its inha-
lation, was  of  uncertain  character.  Anthony Todd
Thomson well sums up what I conceive to have been
the state of  knowledge at the time upon this subject,
in his London Dispensatory, of 1818.  " As an anti-
spasmodic, it relieves the paroxysm of spasmodic asth-
ma, whether it be taken into the stomach, or its vapor
only be inhaled into the lungs.   Much caution, how-
ever, is  required in inhaling the vapor of ether, as the
imprudent inspiration of  it  has  produced lethargic
and apoplectic  symptoms."   In his  Materia  Medica
and Therapeutics, of 1832, however, omitting all men-
tion of inhalation, he  uses the following words: —
" Like  other diffusible  excitants, its effects are rapidly
propagated  over the system, and soon dissipated. From
its volatile nature its exciting influence is probably aug-
mented ; as it produces distension of the stomach and
bowels, and is  thus applied to every portion of their
sensitive surface.   It is probable that it  is absorbed in
its state of  vapor, and  is therefore directly applied to
the nervous centres.  It is the diffusible nature of the
stimulus of ether which renders it so well adapted for
causing sudden excitement, and producing immediate
results.   Its effects, however, so soon disappear, that
the dose requires to be frequently repeated.' "
   That many persons have made  experiments with

       * A feeling of coolness that follows a slight excitement.
               c 
10
DIFFERENT CLAIMANTS.
ether and other gases, there is  no doubt.  Probably
many individuals have approached almost the consum-
mation so much desired, and at last so happily found;
but all who have thought, all who have experimented
on a given subject, even though the results have been
partially or wholly successful, cannot be acknowledged
as discoverers  so long as  they keep the secret locked
up in their own breasts.  It is  he that not only thinks,
studies, and experiments, but who also promulgates
his discoveries to the world, and applies them to prac-
tice, who will ever be looked upon as the real benefac-
tor of his race.
  Among the  claimants of the honor belonging to the
discoverer of  this antidote  to  human  suffering, are
found  some individuals in  France and  England, as
well as those who have opposed the patentees in this
country.
  In Paris, " a Mr. Granier de  Cassagnac has publish-
ed an article in the Presse, claiming to have made the
discovery seventeen years since,  and published an ac-
count  of it  in the Journal  Politique  et Litter aire de
Toulouse.
  " His pretensions fell dead,  without any one  even
offering to contradict them."
  It has also « been claimed  by R. H. Collier, M.D., of
England ; but the most which his claim amounts to is,
that of having  published, in  1843, an  account of the
unconsciousness  which may be produced by the inha-
lation of ether ;  but this, as we have  already stated,
was long since known."
  It is worthy of remark, that Sir Humphrey Davy, at 
DAVY, BRODIE.
11
one period  of his life, was much  interested  in  the
" pneumatic medicine," as  it was  then  called, or the
inhalation of  gases — some  of his experiments with
which nearly cost him his life.
  In John Davy's edition of his works, the following
remarkable  passage occurs: — "As nitrous oxyde, in
its extensive operations, appears capable of destroying
pain,  it may probably be  used with advantage  during
surgical operations, in which no great effusion of blood
takes  place."  Vol. iii. p.  349.
  A London paper says of this discovery, — it has been
asserted  " that our  most eminent surgeon, Sir  Benja-
min Brodie, by some former experiments on the effects
of inhaling  ether, led the  way to this great discovery;
but witness  a passage in  his discourse delivered at St.
George's Hospital, so lately as the  1st October, 1846.
He is speaking only of mesmerism: —
  " There is  no  greater desideratum, either in medi-
cine or surgery, than to have the means of allaying or
preventing bodily pain, not  only in cases  of surgical
operation, but in other cases also;  but  there is  too
good reason to apprehend that it has not been reserved
for  the revival of  animal  magnetism  under a  new
name, to accomplish that  for which all physicians and
surgeons have been looking in vain, from  the days of
Hippocrates down to the present time."
  Dr.  Pearson, so  early  as 1795,  recommended  the
inhalation of ether, as beneficial in pthisical cases.  " It
abates,"  he  says, "  the hectic fever, checks the sweats,
removes the dyspnoea, and greatly improves the quality
of the expectorated  matter."   It was his custom to put 
12
EFFECT  OF ETHER.
 a small quantity of ether in a saucer, or  any conveni-
 ent vessel, and permit the patient  to draw in the vapor
 with his breath, till it  was exhausted.   He  also added
 flavoring and other medicinal substances.   It does not
 appear, however, that these inhalations were designed
 to, or that they did, produce unconsciousness.
   In the year 1815, Nysten strongly recommended the
 inhalation of ether in diseases of the lungs, on account
 of its anodyne property.  He also speaks  of an  instru-
 ment for inhaling it, but of what it consisted we do not
 know.
  In the 1223d number of the London Lancet, p.  164,
 a case  is related of an old gentleman, who used the
 vapor of ether as  a sedative.   It seems that a  varied
 and  not strictly moral life had brought him to  desire
 some means of quieting the uneasy feelings and  "com-
 punctuous visitings with which he was affected ;  and
 in the fumes of ether to seek oblivion from all intruding
 thoughts." His plan was to put an ounce or two of the
 article in some open vessel, and, as it were, " snuff it
 up."  He often declared it to be "soothing to an im-
 measurable degree."   But it does not appear to have
 occurred to him or his friends, that it is capable  of as-
 suaging bodily as well as mental pain.
  In Brand's  Journal of Science and  the Arts, 1818
 a writer speaks of "the effects  of inhaling the'vapor
 of sulphuric ether," with the best  manner of using it,
 and precautions in  regard to it, &c.
  In France, likewise, during the reign of Charles X.
a proposition was submitted to the Academy of Med^
icine in Paris, by an English doctor named Hinchnam 
             DRS. JACKSON AND MORTON.          13

to render patients, about to undergo surgical operations,
insensible, by means of "inhalations;" but whether
of ether or something else, we are not informed.
  Indeed, it appears that experiments with vapors and
gases have been extensive  and numerous, approach-
ing so near to  the character of those which induced
Messrs. Jackson and Morton to  make a public  an-
nouncement of their discovery, that instead of being
astonished at their success, we only wonder that of the
many who have stood upon the  threshold, all  should
have turned back, and neglected  a further prosecution
of their researches.
  That ether was known to produce unconsciousness
is readily conceded; but the idea  of using it as a sed-
ative agent in operative  surgery,  is the idea for which
we are indebted to the American  patentees.
  Since Dr. Morton first published his discovery to the
world, in  Boston, in  September,  1846, not a few indi-
viduals have set up claims to priority of discovery ;  but
up to this time, Messrs. Jackson and Morton have, we
think, fully substantiated their right to  be considered
the inventors.   We  would, by no means, impugn the
motives of all who  have  set up  counter  claims;  but
we must say, that if any individual had made so valu-
able a discovery, calculated, as we may reasonably an-
ticipate, to confer so great a benefit upon almost every
individual to be found in civilized society, at the  pre-
sent and in all future time, the person is hardly excusa-
ble  who should withhold the information from the pub-
lic.   A discovery which involves only pecuniary ben-
efits, might very properly be withheld by the discov-
               er 
14
DR.  WELLS.
 erer  until every arrangement had been made to secure
 the profit to himself.   But an  invention  or  discovery
 which  is destined to  alleviate the sufferings of poor
 dilapidated humanity, the medical profession have a
 right to know about ;  and this the wrorld have a right
 to demand.  While, therefore, we admit the probabil-
 ity that many others have, by experiment  or otherwise,
 arrived at nearly the  same results as Dr. Morton, we
 must maintain, that not having put them to any prac-
 tical  use, they have no right  to claim  the  invention.
 But  there  is another  class  "in every community,
 and probably  always will be, of persons constantly on
 the look out, ever ready and eager to avail themselves
 of the labors and inventions of others.   When they are
 about to seize upon the improvement of some one else,
 they commonly begin  by crying out that they thought
 of it before, —they first attempted  or accomplished it
 themselves ;—and  then proceeding to appropriate  the
 benefit of it to their own private use, they endeavor to
 make the most of their lill-gotten gains' —as  lon« as
 they can set justice  at defiance, or hold on with impu-
 nity."                                          ^
   One of the  most  determined and persevering oppo-
 nents of Messrs. Jackson and Morton's  right to the
 patent, is Mr. Horace Wells, of Hartford, Connecticut,
who has published a pamphlet containing affidavits
from respectable sources, tending to  show priority of
discovery; but he is met by Dr. Morton  with a letter
over his own signature, in which he speaks of  the dis'
covery as Dr. Morton's, and  suggests to him to make
arrangements  for disposing of his rights.  After
an 
NITROUS OXIDE.
15
examination  of the statements of Dr. Wells and his
friends, we have arrived at the  conclusion that  Dr.
Wells rests his claim to the discovery on his use of
nitrous oxide gas, which he states that he had used a
number of times in preference to ether, which he con-
sidered more dangerous, but neither of which he used
for any length  of time, not finding them to answer
the purpose  he expected.  Dr. Wells, however, went
to Europe, and succeeded in convincing  Dr. Brewster,
and some others, of his  right to the discovery.
   In regard to the use of nitrous oxide, by Dr. Wells,
we may remark, that it was  nothing more than an
application of  what  Sir Humphrey Davy discovered
long ago.  Mr. Edward Warren gives the following
account of it, and the effect it had upon Davy : —
   " The  nitrous oxide  gas (known to chemists  as the
gaseous oxide  of azote, or the protoxide  of nitrogen),
differs from atmospheric air only in the proportions of
its ingredients,  air being composed  of  twenty-seven
parts of oxygen and  seventy-three  of nitrogen,  while
the nitrous oxide consists of thirty-seven  parts of oxy-
gen and sixty-three of nitrogen.   Sir Humphrey Davy
first discovered that  this gas could be safely inhaled,
and that, for  a short time, it would support respiration.
He was  surprised to learn, as he did by experiments
on himself, that it produced a species of intoxication.
In breathing it, he  says, ' The first inspiration caused
a slight degree of giddiness.  This was  succeeded by
an uncommon sense of fullness  m the head, accom-
panied by loss of distinct sensation and voluntary pow-
er, — a feeling analogous to that produced in the first 
16
EXPERIMENTS OF DAVY.
 stage of intoxication, but unattended  by pleasurable
 sensations.'
   " At another time, on returning from  a fatiguing
 journey, he was shut up in an  air-tight breathing box,
 in which he became habituated to the gas, by its grad-
 ual introduction.   After  breathing it an hour  and a
 quarter, during which eighty quarts were  forced in, he
 came out, and began to inhale twenty quarts of pure
 nitrous oxide.  As respiration went on, a thrilling was
 felt, from chest to  extremities, until, as the pleasurable
 sensation  increased, he  lost all  connection with ex-
 ternal things,  and seemed  to  exist in  a new world.
 4 When,'  says  he,  ' I was awaked from this same deli-
 cious trance, by Dr. Kinglake, who took the bag  from
 my mouth, indignation and  pride  were the first feel-
 ings  produced by the sight of the  persons about me.
 My emotions were enthusiastic and sublime, and, for
 a moment, I walked round the room, perfectly regard-
 less of what was said to me.   As I recovered my for-
 mer state  of mind, I felt an inclination to communi-
 cate the discoveries I had made during the experiment.
 I endeavored to recall the  ideas; they were feeble and
 indistinct.  One recollection of terms, however, pre-
 sented  itself; and, with the  most intense belief and
 prophetic manner,  I exclaimed to Dr. Kinglake, —No-
 thing exists but thoughts;  the universe is composed of
 impressions, ideas, pleasures,  and pains.'
  " Sir Humphrey also says (in his Researches, p. 465),
~d 7 77°™'thG inhalati°n of -trous oxide
removed headache.   Furthermore,  he found  that it 
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.
17
greatly mitigated, or wholly removed, the pain he expe-
rienced while cutting a wisdom-tooth."
  The first recorded  instance  of the  extraction of a
tooth, without pain to the patient, he being under the
influence of vapor  of sulphuric ether, occurred  at the
rooms of Dr. Morton, in Boston, September 30th, 1846.
  J. C. Warren, Professor of  Anatomy and Surgery
of the Massachusetts General  Hospital, also certifies
" that he had never heard of the inhalation of sulphu-
ric ether as a means of preventing pain in surgical op-
erations, until it was suggested  to him by Dr. W. T.  G.
Morton,  in the latter part of October, 1846."  Also, Dr.
C.  F. Heywood, House  Surgeon  of Massachusetts
General Hospital,  certifies that he " assisted in the
administration of Dr. Morton's preparation to two pa-
tients, operated  upon by Drs. Warren and Hayward,
at the Massachusetts  General Hospital, on the 16th
and  17th  of October, 1846—the operations lasting
from five to ten minutes, without  suffering to  the pa-
tients, who speedily recovered."
   It is generally known that the patent was taken out
in the names of Charles T. Jackson and  Wm. T. G.
 Morton, and bears date 27th October, 1846.
   Subsequently Dr. Jackson claimed the sole merit of
the  discovery, inasmuch as he suggested to Dr. Mor-
ton the inspiration of ether, as  a means of  allaying the
pain  of operations upon the  teeth.   But upon  Dr.
 Morton's acting upon his suggestion,  Dr. Jackson dis-
 claimed all connection  with it, fearing dangerous re-
 sults.  Both had made  experiments;  but Dr. Morton
 having  the earliest and  best opportunity of testing it 
IS
OBJECTIONS  TO ETHER.
upon his patients, soon demonstrated the result which
Dr. Jackson had  pointed out; though it is but justice
to Dr. Morton to  state that he had, previous to the hint
from Dr. Jackson, been experimenting for months with
ethereal and other gases, chiefly with a view  to  being
able  to extract teeth without pain.  Dr. Jackson  has
been long and favorably  known as  an experienced
chemist and geologist.  Dr.  Morton was formerly his
pupil, and until he  devoted himself to the  profession
of dentistry.
   Objections to the use of ether, from interested and
disinterested  sources,  have been  many  and various.
One of the first that attracted our attention, was an
article published  by Mr. Richard Kissam, in the Jour-
nal  of Commerce,  an  influential newspaper of New
York.  He avers,
   1st, That our  physical  organization is such, that if
the sensation of pain were  obliterated, we should be
liable to destroy our bodies and limbs, where now  we
are warned to preserve and shield them, by the  suffer-
ing consequent on any injury.
   2d, That when a wound or other external  injury is
received, the pain  which  usually follows  stimulates
and sets in action the recuperative process, which much
facilitates the cure,  while, in cases where pain at  the
time of injury is not felt, on account of strong mental
excitement, from the presence of alcohol,  or other stu-
pefying articles in  the  system, the danger of death is
much more imminent, the cure always retarded, and
the subsequent pain much greater.^
  * During the recent bombardment of Vera Cruz, a soldier was wounded
and amputation of both legs (at the thigh) was found necessary.  He sur- 
OBJECTIONS TO ETHER.
19
  We admit the first proposition as an universal affirm-
ation,  but perceive no  applicability to the  medicinal
use of ether.   It is not proposed that  persons should
keep  themselves constantly under its influence,  with
the idea of being  invulnerable  to pain.   The use of
the article, as such, would be highly improper, and pro-
ductive of more injury than benefit.   But that its oc-
casional use, under the direction of an experienced per-
son, for some specific purpose, has any such tendency,
we do not admit.
   The second  proposition  is  fallacious.  The  idea
" that the absence of pain  during an operation — or,
the external exhibition  of feeling necessarily causes
greater subsequent pain," demands consideration; for,
if it  be true under all  circumstances, we should look
upon any  article, designed to allay pain, as  of very
" doubtful utility."  He affirms, that during the excite-
ment of battle, soldiers sometimes  do  not feel their
wounds; but that, after the  excitement is over, they
suffer most severely.   He states, also, as a fact (which
is hardly susceptible  of proof), that  " a person under
the influence of strong drink may receive severe inju-
ries,  and not be sensible of them at the time; yet, on
 recovering his senses, his tortures are exceedingly aug-
 mented."  To prove this, it would be necessary for the
 same individual  to  receive  exactly the same  amount

 vived the operation of amputating one limb, but so great was the pain, that
 the surgeon declared that the amputation of the other limb would produce
 death. He inhaled ether, and it was removed.  During the operation, he
 was unconscious of pain, and finally recovered.
   Now if pain be necessary to a cure, how much quicker would the soldier
 have recovered without ether V 
20
OBJECTIONS MET.
  and kind  of injury with the same  state of general
  health, and every other  attendant circumstance, in a
  state of sobriety.  One reason why inebriated persons
  may suffer greater injuries  from the same apparent
  causes, which  less affect a  sober man, is that their
  power of resistance to falls and blows is less ;  but that
  their recovery from the  same kind and amount  of in-
  jury is more painful and difficult, is  a mere assertion
  without proof.
    In cases of wounds or injuries, in which pain  is not
  experienced during surgical  operations or otherwise,
  through the influence  of strong mental emotions,  or
  wherethrough  pride, all expression of pain is subdued,
  we are aware that the nervous  system subsequently
  suffers.
    We recollect the case  of a lady, who endured, for
  three or four hours, some exceedingly painful opera-
  tions upon her teeth, without exhibiting the least symp-
  tom of pain, though at times it must  have been very
  severe.  She had made up her mind  to preserve per-
 fect calmness, and  succeeded  ; but a subsequent reac-
 tion was the result, and  more than a week of nervous
 prostration and debility was the penalty.
   But neither theories nor facts, showing that absence
 of pain, by reason of  some  all-controlling nervous
 excitement,  renders more severe and difficult the cu-
 rative process,  militate against the use of ethereal
 vapor,  as an anodyne; for, if these  facts  prove any
 thing, they prove too much;  for, if the extraordinary
 excitement of one set of nerves does a subsequent in-
jury to  another set,  and thus retards the restoration of 
OBJECTIONS  MET.
21
the general  health, we should say that those individu-
als, who, by superior power of brain, quell pain, or the
exhibitions of it, and thus aggravate  future suffering —
they are the very individuals who should use, not a par-
tial anodyne, like opium, nor a stimulant, like alcohol,
but  an agent like the ethereal vapor, which tranquil-
izes, not one class of nerves at the expense of another
but all,— and  diffuses  its benign influence over tlfe
whole system.
   But, admitting the presence of pain to be necessary
for the healing of wounds,  &c,  many minor opera-
tions, such as the extraction of teeth, are  exceptions;
for,  unless  the surrounding parts are  diseased, there
is no  subsequent pain occasioned  by the extraction
of a tooth, when the operation is properly performed.
So that  though it might be  improper to use  the va-
por  in operations in  general  surgery, it would not
necessarily be improper in dental operations.
   We have thought proper to answer these objections
at some length; for,  although they are  plausible, they
are  sophistical, and  therefore calculated to mislead
those  who  are not in the habit of  thinking for them-
selves.  We will dismiss Dr. Kissam  with one  ques-
tion :—If pain be so necessary to the curative process,
why have intelligent physicians in all ages sought for
an agent to  remove it ?
   But the most serious charge consists in the allega-
tion that ether is in itself'injurious;  that  it is liable to
produce  headache, sickness  at the  stomach, delirium,
nsphyxia, death.   Statements have been made in the
             D 
22             PREPARATION OF ETHER.
 public journals (whether true  or false, we know not),
 respecting injuries, more or less serious, from its use.
   We have administered  it in  several  thousand cases,
 to both sexes, and to persons of all ages, and of every tem-
peramentfand under a great variety  of circumstances,
 and we have yet to hear of the first instance of injury
 known to have resulted  through ethereal inhalation,
 ifo  our practice.   We believe, therefore, where injury
 has resulted, that  either the ether  was not pure, or it
 was improperly administered.
   In regard to the preparation  of ether, it is necessary
 to observe that there  are many different kinds; and
 that m which was  entirely unsuitable  for  the purpose
 may have been administered, in some cases, through
ignorance; and experiments may sometimes have failed
in consequence of a want of confidence by or in the
operator; and  this shows why such different results
have been produced by what is called sulphuric ether.
   Ether is the name of a class of  very light, volatile,
inflammable, and fragrant spirituous  liquids,  obtained
by distilling in a glass retort a mixture of alcohol with
almost any strong acid.   Every acid modifies the re-
sult in  a certain degree,  whence  several varieties  of
ether are produced.
   There are several  methods  of  preparing  it ;  one
where the whole quantity of acid  and alcohol is mix-
ed  at once, and directly  subjected to distillation; by
another, the alcohol is  gradually admitted into a body
of acid,  previously mixed  with a little  alcohol, and
heated to 220° F.
   The theory of etherization demonstrates that when 
PROPERTIES OF ETHER.
23
strong sulphuric acid is  mixed  with alcohol, there  is
formed, on  the one  hand, a more  aqueous  sulphuric
acid ; and on the other, sulphovinic acid is decomposed,
its dihydrate of carbon combines with the alcohol, and
constitutes ether; while  the proportion  of  sulphovinic
acid progressively diminishes.
   Pure ether possesses the following properties:  It is
limpid;  has a specific gravity 0-713, or 0-715 at 60° ;
has a peculiar, penetrating, and  strong smell; a taste
at  first acrid, burning, sweet, and finally cooling.  It
has neither an acid  nor  alkaline reaction, and refracts
light  strongly.   It is very volatile, boiling at 96° or
97° F., and produces, by evaporation, a great degree of
cold.  At the temperature of 62-4 the vapor of ether bal-
ances a column of mercury fifteen  inches high, or half
the weight of the atmosphere.   When  ether is cooled
to  24°  F., it begins to  crystalize  in  brilliant white
plates;  and at 47°,  it becomes a white crystaline solid.
   Ether alters gradually by contact with  air; absorb-
ing  oxygen, and progressively changing  into acetic
acid  and water.  Ether should, therefore, be preserved
in bottles  perfectly full  and  well  corked, and. kept in
 a cool place; otherwise  it becomes sour, and is de-
 stroyed.
    Ether acts as an  exhilarant or sedative, according to
 it  purity.  Common sulphuric  ether was used as an
 anodyne  in  Guy's Hospital,  London, in 1811, but
 abandoned, as it was found  in  many  cases  to excite,
 instead of composing the nerves.   The difference be-
 tween pure sulphuric ether and lhat commonly obtain-
 ed from apothecaries, will be seen when the process of
 manufacture is  described. 
24
SULPHURIC  ETHER.
  " Pure  sulphuric ether is  regarded as an  oxide of
ethule, and  is represented by the formula C4 H5 O '■>
its symbol is, therefore, Ae O.   It is prepared  by de-
composing  highly rectified  alcohol, by means  of sul-
phuric acid, or oil of vitriol.   Five parts of alcohol, of
90 per cent., are mixed with nine parts of oil of vitriol, in
a vessel of  copper or iron, placed in  cold water, so as
to cool the mixture.   The action of sulphuric acid on
alcohol is catalytic;  bisulphate of oxide  of ethule is
formed, which, by elevation of  the  temperature and
brisk ebullition, is decomposed, and the oxide of ethule
passes over in  vapor; the  sulphuric acid  remaining
with a portion  of undecomposed alcohol,  the water
which  passes over in  vapor no longer uniting with the
ether.  Alcohol  is repeatedly added  to  the  sulphuric
acid, which would decompose an indefinite quantity
of it, were it not diluted by the water introduced — ten
per cent, of which is conveyed to it by common alco-
hol.
  " The distilled liquid is next  to be treated with an
alcoholic  solution of potash, to neutralize  the acids,
and to render it  slightly alkaline.  It should then be
redistilled in a water-bath, and  the operation is to be
arrested as  soon as  the ether  has attained  a specific
gravity of 0-72 at 80° F.  The  specific gravity  may
be still farther reduced, by  allowing it to  stand for
some days over dry chloride  of calcium, and then re-
distilling it in contact with that hygrometric  substance.
Its boiling point is at 96° F.   It has a penetrating, aro-
matic odor,  and  is highly inflammable.  It should not
change the color of blue litmus paper." 
COMMON ETHER.
25
   Common ether is made by pouring a quantity of sul-
phuric acid upon an equal weight of rectified spirits of
wine, which ingredients  are, by agitation, intimately
mixed.   This mixture is heated  rapidly in a glass re-
tort.  Boiling generates the ether, which is  preserved
condensed, and offered for sale.   Now, sulphuric ether,
thus prepared, is always mixed with alcohol.   It dif-
fers from it, only in being  destitute of water;  the for-
mula of this ether being C4 H5  O, while that of alco-
hol is C4 H5 O H O.
   Individuals ignorant of the difference, have used the
latter.   And here  we have an  elucidation  of most of
the difficulties which have occurred.
   Inhalation of the  purest ether, without a proper  ad-
mixture of  atmospheric  air,  will  produce  asphyxia,
and subsequently, death.  With a properly constructed
inhaler, the possibility of such  results is avoided.
   In Stockton's Dental Intelligencer, of May 1st, 1S47,
after enumerating  the objections proposed by the " dis-
senting dentists of Boston," a  statement is made, that
"fatal results have supervened  after the administration
of ether; and that uterine haemorrhage and abortion
have been produced ;" but  no particular cases are cited,
no facts are given,  no proof of the  truth  of the  as-
sertions adduced.  Hence we feel  at liberty to sup-
pose  these cases  ideal instead  of actual—especially
as  we  have  frequently administered  it  to pregnant
females,  suffering from toothache, and  always with
the best results.
   Dr. Morton is opposed because he did  not  at once
give the world its  benefits gratis.  Be it so.  But does 
26
PROFESSIONAL  JEALOUSY.
 this  prove he was not the discoverer?   Was it to be
 expected that  he would  transfer a knowledge  of his
 discovery to an  institution  to which he neither felt in-
 debted, nor expected aught, until he had first secured
 any  pecuniary or honorary benefits which might arise
 from it?  Dr. Morton, we  believe, did  not, after  the
 first  few experiments, pretend to keep the article " se-
 cret ;" the very opposite of " patent," which  means to
 open, or  spread.  And when  a patent is granted by
 Congress, any person, for a shilling,  can examine  the
 records of the office, and obtain an exact description
 of any article  which is patented.  Some, no  doubt,
 have honestly opposed  this anodyne, who would now
 be very happy to retract, if the  Lethean itself could be
 applied to the record of their opposition, and its exist-
 ence become  the subject of asphyxia.   Had the dis-
 covery been  made in another way, and by some other
 persons, its reception with many individuals  would
 probably  have been  extremely different.  We would,
 by no means, be understood as objecting to medical
 or dental  institutions, as such;  we  regard them  as in-
 dispensable to the prosperity of the profession ; but we
 merely express what we have long felt,—that these insti-
 tutions, through the  ignoble  spirit of minor  members,
 have generated  a spirit of  exclusiveness, which  has
 caused learned and intelligent men, without  the pale,
 to look upon them with a little of that distrust, so much
felt by themselves, for that large but unfortunate class
 without their honors.
   The most intelligent of the medical profession are the
 least  illiberal; while those with nothing but the empty 
LETHEAN INTRODUCED INTO EUROPE.      27
honor of a graduation-ticket, frown upon all who can-
not pronounce  the  " shibboleth"  of their alma  mater,
and who cling to their diploma like drowning men to
straws.   Such men would  naturally scout  the idea of
so great a discovery coming " out of Nazareth," instead
of a medical  college.   Was it for fear that "Mister"
Morton might  have been  the  discoverer, that certain
members of the profession were so much incensed, be-
cause their reasons  for disproving it were few ?
   Ether,  as  a  lethean,  was   thus  introduced  into
Europe on the 28th of November.  Dr. Bigelow, of
Boston, writes  to his friend, Dr. Boolt,  in London, an-
nouncing the "new  anodyne  process," and  giving
instances of its success.
   On the 14th of December, Dr.  Boott sends Dr. Big-
elow's letter to Mr.  Liston, naturally anxious to make
so important a communication, without loss of time, to
one  so preeminent  in the operative department of sur-
gery.  And that distinguished  surgeon, worthy of the
confidence reposed in him, speedily  tested  the mat-
ter, in the hospital of University College.   His  suc-
cess was most complete, on the 21st of  December.   On
the morning of the 23d of December, his former pupil,
Prof. Miller, of Edinburgh, was not a little surprised,
doubtless, to receive the following epistle: —

   " An American dentist has used ether  (inhalation of
it), to destroy sensation in his  operations, and the  plan
has succeeded in the hands of Warren, Hayward, and
others in Boston.  Yesterday, I amputated a thigh,
and removed, by evulsion, both sides  of the great toe 
28
THE  LETHEON TESTED.
 nail, without  the  patient's being  aware  of what was
 doing, so far  as regards pain.  The amputation-man
 heard, he says, what we said, and  was conscious, but
 felt neither the pain of the incisions, nor  that of tying
 the vessels.  In short, he had no sensation of pain in
 the operating  theatre.  I mean to  use it to-day, in a
 case of stone.  In six months, no  operation  will be
 performed without this previous  preparation.   The
 ether must be washed.
                   Thine always,
                                           R. L."

   This was  read  by Prof.  Miller to his  class, within
 an hour after its receipt; and  a somewhat similar an-
 nouncement was also made by Prof. Syme,in the after
 part of  the day.
   A few days after, Prof.  Simpson visited  London,
 and witnessed the  effect of ether in the Hospital.  He
 procured the best inhaler, and  returned  to Edinburgh,
 where, in the Royal Infirmary, an arm was amputated,
 without pain to the patient, who  was under the influ-
 ence of ether.

               THE LETHEAN  TESTED.

   As, after all, the  value of this discovery must be de-
cided by experiment, we shall proceed to give a collec-
tion of facts, giving a fair average account  of the effects
produced by its administration.  We commence with
an  account of the  first cases which occurred in the
Massachusetts General Hospital. 
OPERATIONS  ON TUMORS.            29
  " Operation for Tumor on the Face. — The ether was
administered at the Hospital,  by Dr. Morton (on the
16th October, 1846), to a man, upon whom  Dr.  War-
ren was to  operate  for  a tumor on the  face.   The
effect, in this case,  was  not complete; the suffering,
however, was very much less than it would  have been
under ordinary circumstances ; and the result was, on
the whole, so satisfactory, that a second trial  was made
on the following day."
  "Removal of  Tumors. — The  palient to whom the
ether was administered on the 17th of October,  was a
female, with a fatty tumor on the arm, between  the
shoulder and the elbow.  At the request of Dr. War-
ren,  Dr. Hayward performed  the operation.   The pa-
tient was insensible during the whole time."
  Amputation of the Thigh. — In the third case, " the
patient was a girl of twenty years of age, named Alice
Mohan, who had suffered, for two years, from a disease
of the knee, which  terminated in suppuration  of the
joint and caries of the bones.  For  some months be-
fore the operation,  her  constitutional symptoms  had
become threatening; and the removal of the limb seem-
ed to be the only chance for her life. , The ether was ad-
ministered  by Dr. Morton.  In a little more than three
minutes, she was brought under the influence  of it 5
the limb was removed, and  all the vessels were  tied
but the last, which was  the sixth, before she gave any
indication  of returning consciousness or  of suffering-
She then groaned and  cried out faintly.   She after-
wards said that  she was wholly unconscious and in-
sensible up to that  time; and she seemed to be much 
30           AMPUTATION OF THE  LEG.

surprised when she was told that her limb was off.  She
recovered rapidly, suffering  less than patients usually
do after amputation of the thigh, regained her strength
and flesh;  and was  discharged as well, on the 22d  of
December."
  The following case is reported by Dr. A. L. Cox, of
New York: —
  " Operation for  Tumefied Glands. — On the  8th  of
this month (December, 1846),  I was present, by the
polite invitation of my distinguished  friend, Dr. Mott,
at an operation which he performed on a lady, for the
removal of a cluster of tumefied glands from the right
axilla.   After inhaling the vapor, for a sufficient time
to induce  a state of  insensibility, an incision  four
or five inches in length, was made, parallel to the edge
of the  pectoralis major; and after some  progress had
been made in the  operation, the patient was asked by
Dr. Kimball, how  she  felt.   She replied,  ' Very com-
fortable.'  'Do you feel  any pain?'   'No.'   To the
same queslion, repeated after a short interval,  a similar
reply was made;  and after a further lapse of  time, the
patient, partially arousing, inquired,  ' Have they begun
the cutting ?' — thus manifesting her total unconscious-
ness of what she had passed through, up to that period.
Afterwards, the sense of pain appeared, for some time,
considerably blunted ; but she became gradually more
conscious of what was being done, until, at last, the
sense of suffering seemed to be entirely natural."
  "Amputation of the Leg.— An  accident  recently
occurred to a man at  the  St. Helen's Auckland  Col-
liery, requiring the amputation of his  leg.  The inha- 
CAESARIAN OPERATION.
31
lation of the vapor of ether soon  produced insensibil-
ity, and the operation was  proceeded with, the  first
steps  of which were  not attended  with the slightest
pain.   Consciousness  returned  before  the  operation
was quite completed, when  the usual amount of pain
was experienced.  The medical men present, Messrs.
Hutchinson, Jobson, and Kilburn, were satisfied with
the wonderful effect of the ether, and attributed the par-
tial failure to the imperfection of the  apparatus  pro-
cured on the emergency."— Newcastle (England) Jour-
nal.
   "Ccesarian Operation.— The subject was a dress-
maker, aged twenty-seven, of mild disposition, and only
four feet one inch in height, on  account of the great
distortion  of the pelvis and lower  limbs, from  rickets
during  childhood.   Her  general health good.    She
was not aware  of being pregnant until  the seventh
month ; when she consulted  a surgeon, who, conscious
of her dangerous position, sent her to Mr. Sakey, under
whose care  she  was admitted into St.  Bartholomew's
Hospital.   It was recommended, no operative proceed-
ing should be adopted until the full period  of utero-
sestation ;  and that the Caesarian section would  then
be the most proper measure.   The nature of the  case
being fairly and fully explained  to  the patient,  she
readily consented to undergo any operation which offer-
ed the best chance of relief.  At two  o'clock, in the
morning of the  25th  of January, she  was  awakened
from  sleep by the commencement of labor.   The ope-
ration, therefore, was  no longer delayed.  The vapor
of ether was inhaled by the patient for six minutes, be- 
 32             CESARIAN OPERATION.

 fore its effects were manifest; an incision, eight inches
 in length, was made down to the linea alba, commenc-
 ing two inches above  the umbilicus, and terminating
 two inches and  a half above the pubes.  The linea
 alba was then divided to the same extent on  a broad
 dinetor.  Adequate  pressure over the front and sides
 of  the  abdomen was  necessary to prevent protrusion
 of  the intestines.  An incision, from five  to six inches
 in  length, was then made into the lower axis of the
 uterus, from which a well-formed, healthy-looking  fe-
 male child  was  easily removed.   The placenta was
 extracted shortly afterward.  Thus far, the operation
 lasted six minutes.   Immediate contraction of the ute-
 rus to one-half its previous size, followed the  removal
 of the child.   The  free  venous haemorrhage  which
 took place from its cut surface, was arrested  by cold
 water and pressure  between the hands.  In  half  an
 hour, the uterus had contracted to such a size as to ren-
 der its replacement within the abdomen, safe.   It may
 be as well to observe, that the inhalation  of the ether
 produced insensibility to the pain of the  first incision.
 Its  prolonged exhibition was  not allowed,  lest it might
 possibly interfere with the contraction of the uterus.
  " Without ether, the pain in this case must have been
 most severe, and, from the circumstances mentioned,
 of more than ordinary duration ; but, happily,  the pa-
tient was spared it all.   The apparatus employed, was
one invented by  Mr. Bell, chemist, of Oxford Street,
who was present, and assisted Mr. Tomes in his appli-
cation." — Lon. Med. Gaz.  ' 
          ETHER  IN  VETERINARY  PRACTICE.        33

   Vapor  of Ether applied to Veterinary  Practice.—
 The following cases are introduced to show that  the
 wonderful effects ascribed to  the new anodyne,  are
 totally distinct from those produced by mere opera-
 tions upon  the imagination,  and that they bear  no
 analogy  to the Mesmeric, and similar influences, to
 which have been  ascribed results very nearly Tesem-
 bling those of the inhalation of ether.
   " The  vapor of sulphuric ether  was employed at  the
 Royal Veterinary College, Camden Town, on a sheep
 and  a horse, with the most decided success.  The first-
 named animal was, and  had  been for many months,
 affected  with  an incurable  disease of the hock-joint.
 The pain was so severe, that the poor sheep  was quite
 unable to put her foot to the ground without experienc-
 ing much suffering.  On  being brought into the thea-
 tre, she was caused to inhale the vapor of ether through
 a  tube, and in  about five minutes after, it  was evident
 that  she was under its influence.   The leg  wTas then
 amputated by Mr. Simonds at the thigh,  without  the
 slightest indication of any pain whatever. The operation
 occupied about six minutes; and within twenty min-
 utes  from the commencement, the  animal was removed
 from the  theatre restored  to sensation and conscious-
 ness. The horse was laboring under a chronic affec-
 tion  of the near  fore  foot, commonly known by  the
 name of the " naricular disease,"  for which  the opera-
tion  of " unnerving " is generally  resorted to as a rem-
edy.  This is necessarily a very painful operation; and
oftentimes the operator  has  to  contend  against  the
violent struggles  of the animal, particularly  at the  in-
             E 
34          REDUCTION OF DISLOCATION.
 stant when the  division of the nerve is effected.   In
 this case, the ether vapor was inhaled for about thirteen
 minutes, when  the horse fell forwards, and  the  nerve
 on each side of the leg was divided by Mr. Spooner,
 without the least manifestation of pain ; a slight con-
 vulsive action of  the limb, similar to that which takes
 place when a nerve of a recently killed animal is cut
 through,  alone  giving  indication of any  sensation.
 Within  twenty-three minutes, this animal,  also, had
 perfectly recovered from the effects of the ether.   No
 restraint whatever was resorted to, to keep the animals
 in the required position for these operations."
   "Reduction of Dislocation. — A stout, healthy car-
 penter applied at the  Massachusetts General Hospital,
 one afternoon, with a dislocation of the  left  shoulder.
 The accident happened the evening previous,  from
 slipping down.  Ineffectual attempts at  reduction had
 been made by a practitioner, at first unaided,  and after-
 wards with the  assistance of several  other persons  of
 fair  bodily power, by means of a sheet, &c.  In the
 absence  of Dr.  Hay ward, ihe  visiting surgeon of the
 Hospital, I was immediately  sent for, to take charge
 of the case.   The dislocation  was sub-coracoid,  pre-
 senting the usual appearances.  The pullies and coun-
 ter-extending band being  applied in the customary
 manner,  the inhalation  was  commenced under the
superintendence of the  house physician, Dr. Bertody,
by an apparatus furnished  by Dr. Morton to  the Hos-
pital.  After about two minutes, its influence  was seen
to be established ; indicated not so much by any decid-
ed apparent insensibility, as by a  certain incoherence
of manner; unattended, however, by any attempt at 
REDUCTION  OF DISLOCATION.
35
resistance or the like;  the patient said he ' had  got
enough.'  Traction was commenced, and  after, say a
couple  of minutes, the head of the bone was felt to
move, and at once entered the socket with  an audible
snap.  During this time, not a groan escaped the pa-
tient ; neither was there the slightest resistance felt, on
the part of  the  muscles, in the vicinity  of the  joint.
The patient's manner continued slightly incoherent for
a few moments, but he soon recovered himself, and de-
nied  having experienced the slightest pain, though he
remembered the sensation of the snapping of the bone
into its  place.   I need not say, that, having already ex-
perienced the pain of previous, ineffectual, and  some-
what prolonged  attempts, he expressed himself highly
delighted, and was profuse  in his compliments.
   " The power exerted by the pullies was very slight;
and I feel confident that I could have reduced the bone,
unaided by  them, with my hands alone.   I am in the
habit, every year, of producing this dislocation, among
others, upon the dead subject, for demonstration in the
lectures  of Dr.  Warren ; and it is worthy of remark
with what ease these factitious dislocations are reduced ;
in fact, it is hardly possible to handle the  limb, without
the head of  the  bone flying into the socket — showing
the muscular power to be the chief, if not the sole ob-
stacle, in these  cases, in the living.  In the  instance
above detailed,  so utter was the abolition of the mus-
cular power, and so easy was the reduction, that I  was
strongly reminded of my experiments upon the dead
body.
   " The application of this agent to this  class  of cases, 
36
OPERATION OF LITHOTOMY.
 has undoubtedly suggested itself to every one who has
 seen its employment; and it only remains to apply it
 to a dislocated hip joint, to add another to its triumphs.
 In cases of dislocations, it will probably not only annul
 pain in  the patient, but render unnecessary those vio-
 lent exertions, on the part of the surgeon, which are by
 no means agreeable to the by-standers to witness, or to
 himself to make.             S. Parkman, M.D.
   Dec. 9, 1846.         Surg, to Mass.  Gen. Hos."

   " Case of  Operation of Lithotomy in England. — At
 the Middlesex Hospital (England), the efficacy of the
 ether was put  to  as  severe a test as it  has yet been
 subjected to.  A man of sixty-eight had been admitted,
 with symptoms of stone, and diseased bladder; so much
 pain, straining, and  struggling attended  the  attempts
 at  sounding, that it was with  difficulty  satisfactorily
 accomplished.  The verical tenesmus was  incessant,
 amounting to total incontinence  of urine.   Endeavors
 were made, for several weeks,  to  allay  this extreme
 irritability, so that some urine might  be retained, or
 some water  received as an injection, but in vain ; nei-
 ther could be endured ; lithotrity was consequently out
 of the question, and  Mr. Arnott determined to perform
 the operation of  lithotomy,  unpromising as  the  case
 was, but, if possible, whilst the patient was under the
 influence of the ether.  In  seven  minutes  from the
 commencement, but in reality only two from the effec-
tual  inhalation, its influence  was  obtained.  The ca-
theter was then introduced, and some water attempted
to be injected; but not above two or three ounces  could 
REMOVAL OF  TUMOR.
37
 be borne, and  this, retained  by pressure, was ejected
 immediately on  the introduction of the staff, which,
 owing  to the state  of the  parts,  was effected with
 some difficulty, and consequent delay; the  bladder
 was  cut into;  the  stone  was  grasped at once, but
 crumbled under the forceps, requiring their reintro-
 duction several times; the  scoop was employed to re-
 move calculous  matter like mortar;  and lastly, the
 bladder was injected  four or five times, so as to wash
 it out.   During  the whole time, from first to last, the
 patient gave not  the slightest indication of suffering;
 indeed, it was not until he was removed to bed, and
 had been some time in it, and taken some brandy am-
 monia, that he did  so, and  then of soreness merely.
 Nor was the influence of the ether  limited to this; its
 anodyne effect was maintained during the evening, the
 man remaining  in  a  dreamy and  'very  comfortable
 state,'  as he termed it.  He declared he suffered no
"pain; he knew that something was  being done, but
 he recollected nothing distinctly,  'after blowing the
 horn.'   Up to the evening of the  third day, he was
 going on very favorably."
   " Removal of Tumor of the  Breast.— On the same
 day, a large assemblage of the professional gentlemen
 of this  vicinity, took place  at the Suffolk General Hos-
 pital (England), to witness the operation of removing
 a tumor from the breast of a female, while under the
 influence of ether.  Some difficulty was experienced
 in bringing the patient fully under the influence of the
 ether*  but  she was  laid back on the pillows in a state
 of complete insensibility.   The operation was  then 
38
REMOVAL OF TUMOR.
commenced,  and the tumor, about  the  size  of an
orange, was rapidly removed by Mr. Image,  the  pa-
tient making only an indistinct moaning noise.  As
some dissection was necessary in order to separate the
diseased part, the woman had a second application of
the inhaler, so that the insensibility was maintained as
long as was required.  And now came the most inter-
esting  part of the procedure.   A towel having been
laid over the bosom, so as to conceal the effects of the
operation,  and the patient having recovered her senses,
she was asked  how  she felt,  and whether she was
ready to undergo the operation.   She replied that she
was quite resigned and willing; that she knew that it
must be painful,  but that Mr. Image  might commence
as soon as he liked.  This answer  was elicited from
her several times by Dr. Ranking, that  the  spectators
might have a full opportunity of ascertaining that she
was perfectly unaware of any operation having been
performed.  Dr.  Ranking then  informed  her  that the
tumor  had already  been removed, and that nothing
more was to be  done; upon winch  her countenance
put on an expression of  delight  and grateful astonish-
ment, which it is impossible to depict.  In fact, she ap-
peared  quite incredulous, until she had raised her head,
and herself inspected  the wound, when she could not
sufficiently thank those  around  her, for  having been
spared  an  amount  of  suffering  which, she had  justly
supposed,  would, under any ordinary circumstances,
be  extreme.   Nothing  could,  in  the estimation  of
the majority present,  have been more  demonstrative
of the power of this agent, than the  present case.  It 
THE  ACTUAL CAUTERY.
39
was one which required careful dissection, and was
not, therefore, so rapid as  others.   The  expression of
willingness to submit to the supposed impending op-
eration was genuine, as were also the incredulity and
subsequent gratitude.  The  woman  has since posi-
tively declared, that ' she felt nothing, but  was in  a
dream, and taken away from the present world.'  Her
pulse and general  aspect were not like those of a per-
son who had so large a portion of the body excised."
  " Insensibility to  Pain from a hot Iron. — An exhi-
bition of extraordinary interest  to humanity occurred
at the Massachusetts  General  Hospital, in  Boston.
A patient was  presented — a man somewhat advanced
in Hfe — who, we understand, was laboring under para-
plegia, having its origin in a caries of the lower dorsal
vertebra, for which Dr.  Warren proposed the actual
cautery.   After the patient  had inhaled the lethean,
Dr. Warren passed an iron rod, heated to a white heat,
to the length  of about two feet, up and down the back,
on each side  of the spine, — burning  two lines on one
side and one. on the other, — and then carried it zigzag
across,  between the  spinous processes,  the same dis-
tance.   As the  flesh smoked, and the hot iron hissed
on the surface, the spectators were filled  with admira-
tion at the  entire immunity from pain, and the perfect
stillness  of the patient while subjected  to  this most
painful  and appalling resort of surgery.   On his return
to consciousness,  he was quite ignorant that the opera-
tion had been performed, and said he had  been in a
delightful  dream, and that his sensations were more
agreeable than they had been for a year." 
40             ETHER IN INSANITY.
  "Removal of Cicatrix from Lip.—A boy, twelve years
of age, in vigorous health, was brought to me by his pa-
rents, on account of a scar on the upper lip, about  an
inch in length, which had been caused by a contusion-
The red part of the lip had united irregularly, and produc-
ed considerable deformity.  The operation necessary for
the  relief of this accident, was likely to be painful, pro-
tracted, and to require much delicacy.   It  was impor-
tant, therefore, that  the patient  should  be  kept  in the
most perfect state of  quietude.  This  was not  likely
to be the case, as he  stoutly resisted the idea of sub-
mitting to any suffering.   His parents  were, therefore?
very desirous for  him to take the ether.
  " During the operation, which consisted in dissecting
out the cicatrix from the lip, he remained  immovable;
not the slightest shrinking  or muscular action, of any
kind, being perceptible.  He recovered  from this insen-
sible state while  the  edges of the wound  were being
adjusted and the sutures inserted, but did not make any
complaint.  The  pulse was now found to be slow (say
sixty in the minute);  the pupils dilated.   He  vomited
a little, and  was  faint for  half an hour;  but  when I
saw him in the afternoon, he had quite recovered from
the effects of the application." — Dr. J.  Mason  Warren.
  Application  in  Insanity. — One of the  many inter-
esting and  singular results that have  followed the in-
halation of ether,  is recorded in a foreign journal — the
subject being a mad girl.
  " The vapor was administered at the Insane Asylum
at Pau, by Dr. Cazenovia, to a girl who had been mad
for five months,  and  had not slept during that time- 
       APPARATUS FOR  ADMINISTERING ETHER.     41

After five inhalations, the irritation of the patient was
allayed, and  she sunk  into a sleep, which  continued
twenty-five minutes, when she awoke, with no appear-
ance of her disorder remaining; nor, up to the last ac-
counts, had she any relapse."
  "Ether in Mania. — In the licensed lunatic wards of
the St. Marylebone Infirmary, Dr. Boyd  has tried the
inhalation of sulphuric ether in four cases, one chronic
and three  acute, of violent mania,  amongst females,
with excellent effect, and without any unfavorable re-
sults.  The tranquilizing effect was  produced at vari-
ous intervals of from two to ten minutes;  at  a time
too, when the patients were unusually violent.  All of
them appeared  to  become intoxicated.   Before this
effect was fully produced, their anger in every instance
seemed turned to joy ; a soporific effect was the utmost
that was produced in any case." — Lancet.
       APPARATUS FOR  ADMINISTERING ETHER.
  The apparatus which we have  improved, and now
use for administering the ether, is a glass reservoir, large
enough to hold about a quart.  The reservoir has two
circular openings, from one and  a half to two inches
in diameter, to one of which is attached a tube with a
glass mouth-piece, flattened, at the extremity, to suit the
shape of the mouth.   To this tube, near the orifice, is
attached a valve, by which the expired air from  the
lungs is prevented from returning  to the vessel, and is
dissipated.  This valve is covered with  wire  gauze. 
42
INHALING  APPARATUS.
Fig. 2.
  Fig. 2 represents an inhaler we have received from Paris.  This is sup-
posed to be the only instrument of the kind in this country, excepting the
one now in the possession of Dr. Hayden, of Boston, who  also has used it
with great success.
  The other opening should  be provided  with a glass
stopper, and is  used for the admission  of  atmospheric
air.   We have made  a wire gauze  cap,  as a  safety-
valve by  lamplight.  By this improvement,  ether  can- 
INHALING APPARATUS.
43
not explode or ignite.   Around the elevation which
bounds the orifice  of the tube, a  French  apparatus
is sometimes affixed—a simple apparatus for compress-
ing the nose of the patient.  It consists of spring wires,
padded and covered, which clasp the nose with a gen-
tle  pressure, and  -prevent the too large inspiration of
atmospheric air.  In  the  reservoir  it is only necessary
to place a sponge, well saturated with the ether, for a
brief operation.   If the process  of inhalation has to
be  repeated, a small  quantity, from one to one and a
half ounces of ether,  may be placed  in  ihe reservoir.
Some have recommended the use of linen folds instead
of sponge; but we have found the latter best adapted
to the purpose, as it presents a larger  evaporating sur-
face.
  1  Inhaler. 2, Admits air.   3, Emits ether and air.  4, Admits air.
5 Allows the ether and air to pass into the tube. 6, Orifice of tube to ad-
mit air. 7 and S, Tube with valves for inhalation.  7, Admits air. 8,
Valve for expired air to escape.

  We have often used a sponge, but the patient is  not
so readily affected by its use ; and where a large quan-
tity is administered, the almosphere of the room is  fill-
ed with ethereal  vapor, and  the perpetual inhalation of 
44
DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
 so  much of it, by the operator, is  rather unpleasant-
 Having used the ether in our practice ever since its use
 in the Massachusetts General  Hospital, during which
 time we  have administered it to a great number of per-
 sons each day, we feel to speak with some degree of
 confidence as to its effects.

                 DIRECTIONS  FOR USE.
   1st,  The patient should always be placed in the po-
 sition he  is to occupy during the operation.
   2d, If  a sponge  be  used,  it should be concave, and
 bell-shaped, and large enough to cover the mouth and
 nostrils.  A portion of it may be covered with a piece
 of kid or oil skin,  or  a  folded  towel,  to  prevent  the
 too rapid liberation of the ether; but care should be
 taken, in  all  cases, not to exclude entirely the atmos-
 pheric air;  this is very essential.
   2d, Before  using the apparatus or sponge  contain-
 ing ether, the  patient  should  be instructed  how to
 " draw,"  or " breathe."   If an instrument is to be used,
 the  patient might practise breathing through the tube,
 before putting ether into the  reservoir.
   4th, If  there be witnesses  present, they should  pre-
 serve silence after inhalation has commenced.  Nothing
 more retards  the process, than talking, questions,  and
 exclamations;  especially, if the subject be at all timid;
 in which  case,  the operator  should kindly encourage
 the patient with assurances of the perfect safety of the
 operation.   All unnecessary movements, such as open-
ing and shutting doors,  moving chairs, &c, should  be
avoided.  All noise tends to disturb and retard the pro-
cess. 
DIRECTIONS FOR  USE.
45
  5th,  Where  instruments are to  be used in labor,
operations  for stone,  &c, they should always be  ap-
plied before inhalation is commenced,  as the  risk of
doing injury is thus avoided.  The operator can easily
distinguish the complaints produced by injurious mal-
position of an instrument, and those caused merely by
the new and unpleasant feeling of its introduction.
  6th,  Sometimes the patient declares that  the ether
"chokes him,"  he "can't breathe it,"  &c,  and that
the smell  offends  him.   He must then be persuaded
and encouraged to try again.  Insist on his persever-
ing, and in a short time he will be so much under its
influence, as to be  indisposed or unable longer to resist.
A  winning deportment almost always produces the
effect;  but sometimes it  is  necessary to speak  out
loudly and sharply, to enforce inhalation.
   llh, The progress  of inhalation is  generally more
rapid when the eyes are  kept closed, as the attention
is thus not diverted.
   8th, The operator must always have confidence in
himself,  exhibit no embarrassment, coolly meet every
emergency, and closely watch the  first indication of
ethereal effect.
   9th, Let each step of every operation be persevered
in with the utmost composure, and the abiding convic-
tion that the state which ether has produced may be
surely and with safety continued  as long as the cir-
cumstances may demand.
   10th, By a rapid, steady,  full  inspiration, the  best
effect is produced, and the least quantity of ether re-
quired.  When the inhalation is abrupt and irregular,
               F 
46
DIRECTIONS FOR USE.
 and the patient restless, much of the ether is wasted,
 and the  process  protracted; friends are  sometimes
 alarmed,  and the patient  discouraged.   Again,  if a
 sedative result  on the general circulation be wanted,
 bleeding in the arm should be  resorted to; but it is
 found  that many ounces  of blood are required when
 it is drained  slowly away; but when from a large ori-
 fice in the vein  it is rapidly abstracted, "pleno rivo," the
 patient soon faints, and less blood is therefore neces-
 sary.  It is the  sedative effect that  is wanted in  sur-
 gery, and we have ever found, in our practice, that the
 quicker an individual could be etherized, the better; par-
 ticularly in the  case of nervous patients.
  Usually, the  first few inspirations produce the effect-
 It is at first a decided stimulant, and afterwards operates
 as a powerful sedative ; like opium, which, when  tak-
 en in small quantities, causes excitement, but becomes
 a powerful  narcotic when taken  in tlarge  quantities.
 Some  inhale just enough ether  to become  excited,
 when the  operation is unwisely relinquished.
  11th, For the extraction of teeth, the patient  should
 commence to inhale with the mouth open; as some
 persons obstinately refuse  to open their mouths when
under  the  influence  of ether.   We  have sometimes
placed a cork between the teeth, to keep the jaws apart.
In some instances, the mouth can be forced open, but
this is  impossible in  others.
  12^A, If the pulse should rise above one hundred
and forty,  or sink to  fifty-five pulsations in a minute
ether should  be used with  great caution.   We were
once called upon to  extract a very bad tooth, present- 
ETHER IN DELIRIUM TREMENS.
47
ing uncommon  difficulty, for a middle-aged lady (of
very nervous temperament), who was anxious to  take
the ether; which I gave her, and painlessly removed
the tooth.   This was done  in  the presence of Drs.
Cross and Warren, the latter of whom kept his fingers
continually upon her pulse, but could detect  no varia-
tion in the movement of the heart.
   It has been supposed, that ether should not be ad-
ministered in certain cases, and  to those  affected with
certain complaints; that it  should not be used in the
following cases: —
   1st,  Disease of the heart; on  the supposition that
fatal syncope would result.
   2d, Where there is a tendency to haemorrhage of the
lungs, apoplexy, or congestion of the brain.
   3d, To highly nervous persons, females  subject to
hysteria, &c.
   4th,  Cases  of  chronic bronchitis, or where any irri-
tation of the air-passages exists.
   5th,  Cases of tubercles of the lungs.
   6th,  Epilepsy, mania, and delirium  tremens.
   1th,  Operations for deep-seated tumors of the neck.
   8th,  Very young subjects.
   9th,  Those  subject to convulsions.
   But  the safe inhalation of ether, by persons affected
with these  complaints,  proves these objections  to be
purely ideal.  The following, among many cases, in-
dicates  the  advantage  and even  benefit of ether, in
mania a potu: —
   " Dr. Upham, of Boston, has contributed to the Bos-
ton Medical and  Surgical Journal, an account of the 
48
OPERATIONS ON INFANTS.
 successful treatment of a  case  of delirium  tremens,
 by the inhalation of ether.  The patient was in a high
 state of nervous excitement; and after the usual treat-
 ment by opium, in the form of morphine, had failed to
 induce sleep, on the day of the experiment, he was still
 in a state of wakefulness and high delirium, but so much
 exhausted as to make it a matter of  the highest mo-
 ment to induce sleep immediately.   In  this  state it
 was determined to resort, as a last experiment, to ethe-
 real  inhalation, and the ether  was accordingly admin-
 istered by a sponge.  Dr. Upham thus details  the re-
 sult : —
   " The patient was very refractory, and required to
 be held  by assistants,  in  the  mean while struggling,
 raving, and cursing.  After  inhaling the vapor for the
 space of ten or twelve minutes, he appeared quiet, and
 was thought  to be fully under the ethereal influence;
 but  upon  removal of the sponge, 4ie sprang  up and
 commenced raving anew.  The process was repeated,
 and continued  for ten minutes  more, at the  end of
 which time, the patient was brought fairly under the
 desired influence, and fell asleep.  From this state of
 artificial sleep, he passed, without waking, into a quiet,
 deep, and untroubled slumber, which continued with-
 out intermission for four and a half hours.
   " He was seen several times during the continuance
 of this sleep,  and within a few minutes after he awoke.
 He then appeared perfectly rational,  called  for cold
water, and  asked to have his leg dressed (he had bruis-
ed it  badly during  the delirium).  In  the course of
half an hour he fell again (as was anticipated) into a 
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
49
quiet sleep, which continued, with few  intermissions,
during the afternoon and night.
  " Next morning (Saturday) he appeared perfectly ra-
tional and well, though weak.   He had no recollection
of any thing that  had happened, from nightfall on
Monday, to the time of his first waking on the Friday
afternoon."
   We hold in our possession a statement of Mrs. W.,
of Mobile,  formerly of F----Street, N----1, and who
has been for years laboring under stricture and haemor-
rhage of the lungs, and to whom we administered much
ether,  several times, on  different occasions, for three
months, and without the slightest injury.
   An  operation has been performed, with ether, at the
 Massachusetts Medical College, on  a child only three
months  old;  and in Europe, young  children  have
been painlessly operated upon, and in  no instance in-
juriously affected by ether.
   A patient in  London, was translated, as it were, to
 the realms of bliss, immediately after a  painful opera-
 tion.  Four verses of a psalm were sung by him very
 loudly, with his  eyes fixed, his body in a tremor, and
 intense fervor shown in every movement.   He would
 not be interrupted, and could scarcely  be prevailed
 on to  leave the operation-room, seeing that he  found
 himself  so wonderfully happy there.  He said he had
 been in heaven, and had seen his Saviour;  on  reach-
 ing his bed, he fell on his knees and was wrapped in
 prayer.
   It has always been a leading object, in practical sur-
 gery,  to diminish, as far as  possible,  the amount of
              F* 
50
USE OF  SPIRITS.
suffering during the manipulations  of that art.   Ac-
cordingly, in some operations, tight  pressure has been
made above the  part to be cut, applied  by a tourne-
quet, by bandaging,  or by the powerful  grasp  of an
assistant.
   " In medical  practice, wine, whisky,  and brandy
are every day given  (even  for long continuance) in
such  doses  as must  prove more  or less intoxicating;
in low fevers, for  example,  or  in  threatened  sinking,
after severe shocks by injury.  And here the saving of
life, is held to justify the means.   Employed as a mere
experiment, their use would assume more than a doubt-
ful character.  In the  time of the cholera, when it
raged in its first onset, a  late physician  in Edinburgh,
attached to one of  the  hospitals, experimented largely
in the injection of saline  matters into the veins; and
with no indifferent success.  One old man resisted the
ordinary injection ; and, in a reckless moment, it was
resolved to inject whisky into the veins  instead.   The
effect was electrical.   The  man — before  cold and
clammy, and blue ; without voice, or pulse, or power of
motion—rose up in bed, a living  corpse; fancied  he
was in a change-house;  called  loudly for more drink;
trolled merry songs ; and, after a few minutes of ghastly
gayety, fell back, and sank again, and died."
   The advantages of ether,  besides the mere removal
of pain, are  numerous; and
   1st, Among these, is the removal  of fear, by which
many diseases may be cured, that would otherwise be
permitted to progress  to a fatal  extent, through  dread
of a surgical operation.   For it is well known that per- 
ADVANTAGES  OF ETHER.
51
sons of the most undoubted courage, who have faced
death upon the battle-field with an unblanched counte-
nance, and calmly braved the " perils of the deep," and
boldly risked the contagion of hospitals and "pestilen-
tial climes," have instinctively shrunk from an operation
requiring the surgeon's knife, and permitted a fatal dis-
ease to progress, rather than submit to a surgical oper-
ation.
   2d,  The  prevention of those shocks to the  system
which are always produced by the suffering of pain;
for, in the cases in which ether is  successfully  admin-
istered, no pain is felt; that which is mental or emo-
tional, being avoided ; for all anticipation of pain is re-
moved.   There is,  however, another  kind of shock,
that produced on the spinal and ganglionic systems,
which may remain after the use of ether.  But the cer-
tain prevention of mental shocks, and those produced
by suffering, greatly facilitate recovery ; as there is not
then  that strong reaction  to  contend  against, which
usually follows surgical operations — a reaction  or ex-
haustion of the  system that tends  to  inflammation,
or irritation, caused by overtasking the  nervous system
to bear up under the excitement of an operation.
   3d, Not only does the etherized patient avoid suffer-
ing during the operation, but the  pain  which follows
is materially mitigated by the soothing effects of ether
in the system.  Neither is the mind afterwards haunted
by the recollection of  suffering: hence, those who have
 undergone surgical operations by the inhalation of ether,
 in the  Hospital at Boston, have recovered quicker than
 the same class of cases without ether. 
52
EFFECTS OF ETHER.
   4th, The advantage to the operator of a passive sub-
ject, in most cases, is immense.
   5th, The reduction  of dislocation is found much
easier.  " The patient may  be calm, and anxious to
assist the  surgeon; but when  violent extending force
is applied to the limb, he strains himself greatly, and
renders the muscles connected with the displaced joint
as rigid as if they were of wood or plaster."^   Etheri-
zation removes this rigidity.
   6th, In hernia, which  may be called the dislocation
of the bowels, " it  prevents  the  straining of the pa-
tient, which every  experienced surgeon  knows is  so
greatly obstructive of reduction.  In  a  recent  case of
rupture, the bowels  were constantly  protruding  from
the wound, and could not be replaced, on  account of
the great  and  incontrollable action of the abdominal
muscles; ether was  administered, the patient  became
unconscious, the abdomen lay quiet, and the protruded
parts were  then, without  the  slightest difficulty, re-
placed and retained." #

USUAL EFFECTS OF  ETHER  ON THE PATIENT.   RESTO-
          RATIVES.   DANGEROUS SYMPTOMS.
   Upon the first  attempt at  inhalation, the patient is
often affected  with  a tickling and burning sensation
in the throat, especially if there has not been admitted
with the ether a full supply of atmospheric air.   Some-
times violent coughing is  induced; to  this may suc-
ceed nausea, or even vomiting.  This,  however, sel-
B. and F. Review. 
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
53
dom happens,  unless  the vapor  is received into the
stomach, which may always be avoided, by giving the
patient  proper directions how to "breathe" the vapor.
When the  patient begins to  feel  the  influence of the
ether, there is a loss of voluntary muscular power; the
eyes close,  and the hands drop; if requested to  open
his eyes, the patient either neglects the request entirely,
or, if he endeavors to comply, it is with an effort, and
he soon closes them  again; at this time the  pupils of
the eye will be  found dilated, sometimes  turned up>
or fixed; sometimes the  countenance is  red, and  in
other cases unusually pale.   The pulse  is generally
increased in rapidity and power; if, however, the pulse
falls to sixty in an adult, or  in a  child to seventy-five
or eighty, the ether should be withdrawn.  A flow of
saliva, with unconsciousness to  surrounding objects,
loss of sight (though the eyes may remain open) and of
hearing, are also  accompanying symptoms of the full
effects of ether.  If  the  countenance  assume a  livid
appearance, with heavy, irregular, and labored breath-
ing, the inhalation should be immediately discontinu-
ed.  Cold water dashed  forcibly into  the face, is  often
the best and quickest restorative;  the introduction
of oxygen  gas into the lungs, or the internal exhibition
of aqua ammonia, will effect the same purpose.  Some-
times,  with hysterical  females,  a cold shivering will
come on, accompanied with weeping.   In such a case,
the patient  should be laid in  a horizontal position, and
warmly clothed;  the  hands  should  be  rubbed, and
warm wine administered ; if heat be not soon restored,
warm applications should be  applied to the feet. 
54
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
   The above are the external symptoms; those which
are unpleasant or  dangerous occur but rarely, and no
one  person exhibits  them all.  A  minor operation,
such  as  the extraction of a tooth, does not require so
full etherization of the patient, as where  the  opera-
tion is more severe and of longer duration.
   The internal effects of ether are as various  as the
outward symptoms; and in the cases which we shall pre-
sent that have  come under our own observation and that
of others, it will be seen that they are as various as the
persons who received it.   When  fully etherized, the
patient often sinks  into a dreamy revery, in which his
mind  is employed in recalling the reminiscences of the
past, or enjoying some imaginary delights of the pres-
ent. 
CHAPTER  II.
                  USE OF ETHER,  ETC.

 Contents. — Use of ether in labor.  Cases in Paris and Edinburgh. Cases
  related by Drs. Townsend, Channing, and others.  Author's experiments
  on men and animals. Effects. Experiments on bees, frogs, leeches, fishes,
  dogs, chickens, &c.  Result. Operation of ether. Phenomena. Case
  at Newburyport.

   As this  subject is so important, we  have devoted
 much  inquiry to it, and present  the following facts for
 consideration.   It has  been said by  an  eminent phy-
 sician  (Dr. Merriman), " that there is no operation  in
 surgery more painful than that of labor."   His descrip-
 tion  is truthful and vivid.  " The pulse increases in
 quickness and force; the skin grows hot; the face be-
 comes  intensely  red; drops of sweat stand upon the
 forehead;  perspiration, sometimes profuse, breaks out
 all over the body ; frequent  violent tremblings  accom-
 pany the last pain, and, at  the moment  that the  head
 of the  child passes into the world, the extremity of suf-
fering  seems beyond  endurance.   Or, take the picture
 of the sufferings of the  mother in the last  stage of natu-
 ral labor,  as  portrayed by the most faithful of  living
 observers, Prof. Neagele, of Heidelberg :  ' The  pains,'
 he observes,  ' of this stage, are still more severe,  pain- 
56               ETHER IN LABOR.
 ful, and  enduring; they return  after a short interval,
 and produce a far greater effect upon the patient than
 those of the previous stage.  Their severity increases so
 much the more from the additional suffering arising
 from the continually increasing distension of the exter-
 nal parts.   They convulse the whole frame, and have
 hence been called the dolores conquassantes. The bear-
 ing down becomes more continued, and  not unfre-
 quently there is vomiting.   The patient quivers and
 trembles all over.   Her  face is flushed, and, with the
 rest of the body, is bathed in perspiration.   Her looks
 are staring and wild; the features  alter so much, that
 they can scarcely be recognized.   Her impatience rises
 to its  maximum, with loud crying and wailing; and
 frequently, expressions are used which, even with sen-
 sible, high-principled women, border close upon insan-
 ity.  Every thing denotes the violent manner in which
 both body and mind are affected.' "
   Under the influence of ether, in  labor, not only has
 all pain been removed, but the most exquisite pleasure
 has been  enjoyed; and  many mothers have blessed
 God for the removal of that curse introduced through
 the disobedience of Eve, upon her exodus from Eden ;
 since which, that fiat of the  Deity, " in sorrow  shalt
 thou bring forth children," has been inseparable from
 childbirth, until now graciously removed by this " last
 best gift" to woman.
   Cases are reported of instrumental labor, in a Paris
 hospital, under the use of ether, which were fatal, in
consequence of the supervention of puerperal fever;
but this will hardly be ascribed to  ether, or urged  as 
ETHER IN LABOR.
57
an objection  to its use, as puerperal fever  existed, at
the time, at the hospital; and all who are acquainted
with that disease, know how readily  it  extends  itself
from patient to patient, in hospitals.  " I have not in
memory," says Dr. C, " a single case of instrumental
labor of so much  severity as that of Mrs. H. (reported
in another place), from  which recovery was so rapid,
and so complete, and in which suffering was so slight."
   Not only in  Paris, but in Edinburgh, also, ether has
been used in labor.  To no one is the  profession  more
indebted in this respect, than to Dr. Simpson, professor
in the Edinburgh  University.
   Forbes's  Medical Review, the leading authority in
medical literature in  Europe, contains the following: —
   " In a communication which we have received from
Edinburgh, dated 22d March, Dr. Simpson states that
he had, up  to  that date, used etherization some  forty
or fifty times, with the most perfect safety and success.
His first application of ether, was to a difficult case of
turning,  in a deformed woman.  A painful operation
had to be performed within the womb; and then the
child had to be pulled forcibly away.   Much force was
necessary, and, in ordinary circumstances, much  pain
must have been endured, and the recovery  must have
been tedious.  In this case, during the whole process,
there was either very little or no pain, and the recovery-
was rapid and  perfect.
   In  one case, he kept a person etherized four hours,
and in another  six, without the foetal  heart varying
above ten or twelve  beats during the time.   The moth-
er, in both cases, recovered perfectly, and both were, of
               G 
58
ETHER  IN  LABOR.
 course, astonished, at being delivered  without  being
 aware of it.^   Dr. Channing,  of Boston, also kept a
 person etherized for nine hours.
    He  reports  a case  of Mrs.  S.,  aged twenty-three.
 By inhalation  from a  sponge, in one  minute she was
 unconscious.  " In the first efforts with the  instrument,
 instead of a bearing-down effort, an opposite one was
 made by the patient.   The  lower limbs were straight-
 ened out with  much force, and  the instrument drawn
 inwards into the pelvis.   This was very striking.   But
 a very short reapplication of the sponge obviated this
 difficulty entirely,  and the child favorably descended,
 and no farther organic resistance to delivery occurred.
 The head was  born.   The  child breathed,  and  every
 thing  promised well.    But pains  did  not  occur  for
 some  time.  As  happens not  unfrequently after  the
 accomplishment of delivery  thus far, after  very severe
 labor, contractions  cease as from  exhaustion, and  the
 child remains in great peril.  Perhaps as many child-
 ren are lost in this  way as from  any other accident in
 delivery.   At  length,  however,  an arm was brought
 down, the womb acted, and very slowly the child was
 born.   Some  time elapsed  before the  placenta was

  * On the 22d of  February,  Baron Paul Dubois,  Clinical Professor of
 Midwifery at the Faculty of Paris,  read a paper to the Academy of Medicine
 in that city, detailing his experience of etherization in the practice of mid
 wifery.  His conclusions are the following: —1. It has the power of pre-
venting pain during obstetric operations; such as turning, application of
forceps, &c.  2. It may momentarily suspend the pains of natural labor.
 ;.l doesnot.suspend uterine contraction, nor impede the synergetic action
of the abdominal muscles. 4. It  appears to lessen the natural resistance
which the perineal muscles oppose to the expulsion of the head. 5. It has
not appeared to exert any bad influence over the life and health of tho child 
F.T1IER IN LABOR.
59
detached, but this came  naturally away.  The child
was alive, and  cried.  It was a  boy,  and  weighed
nine pounds.
   She said  she remembered nothing, from  the first
inhalation to the moment when the afterbirth was tak-
en away.  I told her she had talked, had described her
feelings  after inhalation,  had  told us where she had
been, &c. &c.   Well, she said, she  did not know any
thing about that.  She could only repeat what she just
said, that she remembered nothing about it; not a word,
not a syllable.   I asked if she did not recollect that  I
was there, and  used instruments, and  endeavored to
bring  to her remembrance other matlers.   She said,
again and again, she remembered nothing about it.  In
 Mrs. H.'s case,  I stated that she had sense, but notfeel-
 ing; that she knew she was alive, and that people were
 about her, and  assisting  her,  &c, but that she felt  no-
 thing— had no pain.
   Let it be especially borne in mind, that  insensibilty
 to pain, a perfect unconsciousness in regard to suffer-
 ing, may be present, while the patient may be perfectly
 conscious of other  things; namely, of persons about
 him, what is doing, &c.  This it  is which makes one
 of the most  curious  facts in etherization, and demands
 the special notice of the practitioner.  The application
 of ether in  labor  has been  made  because  its  fullest
 agency does not interfere with  the involuntary agen-
 das, the action of  the womb, on which  delivery de-
 pends.  The womb acts under the fullest effects of ether,
 just as  regularly as does the heart or the lungs.   Nay,
 I have  observed obviously good effects during ether- 
60
ETHER IN LABOR.
 ization, in the absence of voluntary efforts, the bearing
 down, to which  the patient is so strongly tempted, in
 order to bring to a more speedy close the extreme suf-
 fering that is experienced.   There has been far less ex-
 haustion after labor, from the  absence of the voluntary
 effort;  and the danger of graver accidents is much di-
 minished.  Effort is  in an important sense proportion-
 ate to the demand, and relaxation goes on steadily, and
 in harmony with the pressure which demands it.  Pro-
 fessor Simpson thinks he has  seen that an increase of
 uterine effort, where  it  was demanded, has been the
 result of etherization.
   June 18.   Case of Mrs. R., aged eighteen.  In  la-
 bor ;  great pain;  refused the ether, but finally consent-
 ed to breathe it; was unconscious in one minute ; pain
 returned; she got  hold  of the sponge, without being
 seen, and breathed at it with great avidity; so much so,
 that it was found difficult to  remove it when discov-
 ered.  The child was born  in four  or five pains after
 etherization.   The placenta was soon thrown off—the
 womb  contracted well,  and a  swathe was  carefully
 applied.
   The  return to  consciousness was slow.   There*
 was exhibited more excitement than  I have before met
 with.  There was a lull expression of previous  most
 perfect freedom from suffering.   A state of entire plea-
 sure was expressed.   She  sung, talked,  raised her
 arms  high  in the  air.  She did not recollect me,  or
 anybody about  her.  Her child's cries, which  were
very loud, strongly attracted her notice.   She passed
her hand over her abdomen firmly, as if to  learn what 
ETHER IN  LABOR.
61
had  happened, and her countenance expressed much
surprise.   Pulse continued natural;  complexion good;
temperature as during labor.  Some haemorrhage, but
not enough to do harm.  She said she was very hun-
gry and thirsty;  and took, with much relish, gruel and
water.  After-pains occurred, in about half an  hour
after labor was over, with much severity, and for which
I prescribed camphor and opium in pills ;  I left her oth-
erwise comfortable.    Slight haemorrhage.  June 13,
she was perfectly well.
   Case of a  lady aged twenty-five.   When etherized,
she exclaimed, ' I am dying, I am dying!'  I had my
finger on the wrist, and carefully examined the pulse.
It was  about ninety before  etherization.  It rose to
ninety-eight, and this was its number, with temporary
changes, during the whole of the labor after ether.  Ex-
citement soon passed by, and  a pleasant calm  suc-
ceeded.  The expressions were now of pleasure only.
'  How beautiful! how beautiful!' was the  language
she  used.   The  state of  etherization  was moderate-
ly sustained during the whole day.   Mrs. W. had some
latent feeling about the remedy which much influenced
the case.  She would vehemently demand the sponge,
and that it should be  thoroughly wet with ether.  She
would put it aside as  soon as she began to feel its ef-
fects.  At times, however, she  would experience its
full  effects.   She was thus by no  means wholly un-
conscious ;  I  mean in that  degree of it as to be una-
ware of people and  things around her.  Sometimes
she would say, < I know you, Dr.  C.  ' I know you, Mrs.
F.,'  &c. &c.; as  if to let us understand that  though
            G^ 
62
ETHER IN LABOR.
 she was unconscious of pain, she knew all other things.
 She would say, when demanding the sponge, 'Do n't
 be afraid of hurting me.  I know just how much  I
 want, and will tell you when to take it away.'  And
 this was done after a manner, which I have  seen in no
 othar case.  The labor was delayed by the  state of the
 perineum.   It was very wide, leaving the os externum
 very small.   Through this protruded a round mass of
 scalp, and a conical-shaped bony mass of scull.  The
 occiput  had  fairly cleared the arch  of the pubis; still
 delivery did not take place.  After an ointment of ext.
 of belladonna and simple  cerate was liberally used
 inside the vagina, and over the perineum, dilatation took
 place readily, and the child was born.  There was per-
 fect abolition of pain in  this  closing period of labor,
 and  when suffering is,  I may  say, always so great.
 The womb contracted  well.   The placenta  was easily
 detached by natural effort, and, with some coagula, was
 expelled.  A swathe was applied.   Child,  a female,
 weighing seven and a half pounds.   It did not breathe
 immediately after its  head was born, but soon breathed
 after cold water was dashed on its face and breast, and
 did perfectly well.  During the labor, 3 j.  ergot was
 infused  into about 6 oz. boiling water, and the tea with-
 out the  powder  taken.   Some  increase  of pain un-
doubtedly followed its use.   The bladder  was emp-
tied with the catheter once during the day.
   Labor began in this case at  twelve the  preceding
night, and was ended at  six, P.M., the following day.
The ether was first inhaled between eight  and  nine,
A.M., and its influence was  sustained, as  above de- 
ETHER IN LABOR.               63
scribed, till nearly five, P.M.   Mrs. W.  described her
state, when consciousness returned after labor, as one
of perfect ease and enjoyment.  She had hardly had
a pain.   She  had little memory of pain.   The  ether
had  made tolerable, what she thought she could hardly
have lived  through without.   She had  been in  pain,
she said, during the three preceding weeks ; her nights
disturbed, and her days most uncomfortable.  She ex-
pressed her gratitude  for this means of her comfort,
through a whole day, after a manner which I have not
heard  paralleled.   Her pulse was calm,  her manner
natural, and her head.free from all pain."
   Another case of a  lady, aged  thirty-six,  delivered
with instruments.   " It seemed impossible for Mrs. A.
to express the gratitude she felt for the pleasure and
the ease afforded to her by the ether.  It was astonish-
ing  to her, that she who had always suffered so  much
in labor, and for so many nights and days, in this last
one, and who after former labors had been in such dis-
tress— it seemed most wonderful to her  to feel now
 so easy and  so happy."
   " The action of the  womb, in some cases, in the ab-
 sence  of all voluntary agency, was very striking.   Not
 only was there natural expulsatory effort, which aided
 the  manual, but the effort was marked occasionally by
 its audible expression, the bearing down, which is so
 well known.   I was reminded of this effort during in-
 sensibility, by a case of most severe puerperal convul-
 sions, which  came under my notice  the  day after the
 above case.   The organic effort, in the entire abolition
 of voluntary power, was most striking.  I have known 
64
ETHER IN LABOR.
a child born by this organic agency, without the least
apparent consciousness of the event on the part of the
mother at the time, or any recollection of it afterwards.
In view of the facts established by so many and such
varied observations, at home and abroad— and of the
fact  of efficient  uterine action, during the full effect
of a well-known agent, ether — the use of  which has
thus far been  so safe, and the application  and modus
operandi of which, a wider observation will do more and
more to  determine, — may we not, in view  of such
facts, look with confidence to the time when labor will
be accomplished with  an  ease an<j a freedom from suf-
fering,  contrasting  strongly with the pain which has
accompanied it, and which hitherto has been regarded
as its necessary condition ?"
  Drs. Townsend and  Channing relate a case  of de-
livery by forceps.  Before the birth, not Ihe least com-
plaint was made.   The case was very difficult, and the
pain ordinarily intense during the process of delivery.
The ether was exhausted, and the patient made most
earnest demands for more.  So great was her agony,
that more ether was procured, and entire relief afforded.
The child was born without her knowledge !
  " So difficult was her case," says Dr. Channing, " I
have not in memory a case of instrumental labor of so
much severity, from which recovery was so rapid or
so complete, and in which suffering was  so slight, at
the time or afterwards."
  Profs. Simpson and Channing say that  they have
observed no harm whatever  to result from the use of
ether in labor, either to mother or child.  Prof. Simp- 
THE  AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE.
65
son says of one case, " On the fourth day, the patient
walked out of her room to  visit her mother."   In seve-
ral cases of extraction by forceps, the results of  etheri-
zation have been  equally satisfactory.  In every case,
the uterine  contractions continued  as regularly after
the state of etherization as before.  In some cases, the
pains appeared to  have increased as the consciousness
of the  patient became  diminished.    This  occurred
where ether was combined with tincture  of ergot, or
contained  a solution of its oil.  And thus, though in
some cases of surgery, ether may seem to labor under
a disadvantage in not proving a successful  opponent
of involuntary muscular action,  here, in  the obstetric
art, the greatest possible advantage  is derived from that
circumstance.   Parturition is shorn  of pain, and yet
not ratarded.
   Our own experience in regard to the administration
of ether has been extensive on men and animals.  Im-
mediately after the discovery of its letheanic properties,
and before administering it to my patients, I experi-
mented on myself, and others who were willing to re-
ceive it, and upon animals, nolens volens, to find out
the particular effect upon  different constitutions, tem-
peraments,  &c.   Without knowing at that time, how
the sulphuric ether was prepared for  inhalation by the
patentees, we knew by our own experiments, that differ-
ent qualities of  sulphuric  ether produced, in the same
persons and animals, different results, as the  ether was
more  or less free from  alcohol.  Knowing the affinity
of alcohol for water, we instituted  a series of  experi- 
66
WASHING ETHER.
ments for separating the former from the latter.   After
a series  of experiments,  we  think  the  following  the
most simple and effectual: —
  Take  a  common  decanter with a  cork stopper,
through which pass two glass tubes; one to admit  air,
the other to emit fluid.   The former may reach  nearly
to the bottom, while the other  terminates at the  inner
end of the stopper, as exhibited in Fig. 4.  Both  outer
ends of  the tubes may be provided with cork stoppers.
Put in equal quantities of water and ether, and  inti-
mately mix  them by  shaking.   In a few minutes the
ether  separates,  and,  being the lightest, floats on the
top, as represented in  Fig. 4.   By inverting the vessel,
and holding it in the hand or in a retort,  and removing
the corks from the tubes, the water and alcohol can all
be drawn off, and the pure ether retained or put into
another vessel.   The ether is now washed. 
THE  AUTHOR'S CASES.
67
  Another way to draw off the ether is, by bending
a glass tube (over a lamp) into a syphon, as seen in
  To prove that the alcohol has united with the water,
apply a lighted match, and it will burn.
  Ether can  be  extemporaneously  and  thoroughly
washed by mixing water and  ether in  any  narrow-
necked, transparent vessel.   Invert, and  let the fluids
separate, to allow the water to  pass  through a per-
forated cork, and arrest the ether when the water has
escaped.
  Out  of  the immense  numbers to  whom we  have
given the ether, of course we can particularize but a
few ; but, in selecting the cases for publication, we shall
have  particular  reference  to the important object of
obtaining a correct general result;  not choosing from
one  sex, class, or peculiar disposition, but  giving  an
average, by which correct conclusions may be drawn
as to the value of the  application.   And in order to do
this, we shall  not limit ourselves to dental operations; 
68
TUMOR IN THE  MOUTH.
 as the general effects upon the system  may be better
 learned by ascertaining its effects under  a great variety
 of circumstances ; so extensive a field, of course, could
 not be found in  the dental profession.
   The  first case to  which we shall allude, is that of
 Captain Adams.
   Some months since,  Captain  A.,  a  respectable
 shipmaster, of Newburyport, called on  me  for advice
 concerning an obstruction in his mouth.  On examin-
 ation, I found a tumerous substance running horizon-
 tally across the mouth, connecting the dexter and sin-
 ister  portions of the superior  jaw, by union with  the
 alveolar periosteum  adjoining the necks of anterior
 and posterior molars.  Its length was one and a half
 inches, circumference one inch, form cylindrical, tex-
 ture   firm, surface  smooth, and  not painful  to  the
 touch.
   Suppose a cord, passed through the interstices of the
 two upper double teeth, carried across the mouth, and
 resting on the gums between the corresponding teeth on
 the opposite  side of the jaw,  drawn tight, and firmly
 secured.  This  furnishes  a  good  idea of this phy-
 siological curiosity.    Through  this eccentric canal,
which spanned the palatial  chasm, the blood pulsated
regularly, as it was propelled through the arteries from
the heart.  The  surrounding  parts  preserved  their in-
tegrity.
  We recommended an operation, to which he assent-
ed ; he also wished the lethean, which we administered;
only  about two minutes inhalation of which sufficed to
render him unconscious of what was going on around 
TUMOR IN THE  MOUTH.
69
him.  Taking a piece of strong silk, waxed, to  pre-
vent premature decomposition, we tied  it firmly round
one  extremity of the  tumor, by which the circulation
was cut  off;  applying a   similar ligature  around
the other extremity, we found by the pallid appearance
that the tumor assumed, that the connection with the
general circulation was destroyed. We then took a lan-
cet, and, equi-distant from either ligature, divided it;
both  portions  immediately  contracted, retaining  the
horizontal position ; a few arrested drops of blood only
were discharged.
   A few  moments after the completion of the opera-
tion, the patient  awoke to consciousness, having suffer-
ed nothing from the compression  or  excision of the
tumor.   In two or three weeks, the  remaining por-
tions sloughed off, and, hanging by a small peduncle,
were easily removed.  No symptoms of any reappear-
ance.
   This substance  originated some ten  years  since,
when  Capt. A.  was on a sealing voyage round Cape
Horn, where the continued  stimulus of salt diet debil-
itated  the venous  and absorbent systems,  and  pro-
duced scorbutic affection.   Ulcers formed in his mouth,
and he was unable to speak.  Struggling to do so, on
one occasion, the ulcers broke, and  the mouth healed.
But he discovered a thread-like substance, stretched
across his  mouth, which had been increasing in  size
ever since, until at last the obstruction  materially inter-
fered with his speech.
   All  to  whom  he had applied for removal, fearing
haemorrhage, declined the responsibility.
              u 
70
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
   The gentleman now enjoys good health; nor could
any one detect, on examination, the slightest evidence
that such  an anomaly had ever existed.  Nor have I
been able, after much research, to find a precedent.
   A young lady, the wife of an officer in the navy,  a
resident of Portsmouth, N. H., seeing an advertisement
concerning the ether in a newspaper, immediately came
to my office  at Newburyport, to  have a tooth extracted.
W^hile under the influence of the vapor, she seemed to
be travelling the distance over again; thought she was
in the carriage with her husband, talking with  him as to
the probability of her going through the operation de-
void of pain.
   Mrs. S----,  the  wife of a  methodist  clergyman,
after taking the ether  for some  moments,  suddenly
arose, and wished one of the  young ladies accompa-
nying her, to play a tune on the piano, and she would
dance.
   On this occasion, the  ether  was  unwashed.  On  a
subsequent occasion, when pure  ether was  adminis-
tered to the  same lady, she exhibited  highly excited
religious feeling.  " The glories of heaven were open
to her view ; she no longer saw through a glass dark-
ly," &c; and, devoutly clasping her hands in ecstatic
raptures, cried out, " Glory to  God! this is happiness ;
thanks, eternal  thanks  to God, for  my creation, for
making such enjoyment for me;  my soul  is full of
bliss," &c.
   In the case of Mr. H, while  under the influence of
lethean, he "thought he was trading in horses, and that
he told the man with whom he imagined he was trad- 
EFFECTS OF  ETHER.
71
ing, that he was going in to Dr. Smith's, to have a tooth
taken out; that he came in, showed me the tooth, and
took the operating chair.  After the tooth was removed,
some one came to the window and knocked for him,
when Mr. H. answered, "hold on until my tooth is out."
  In this, as in many, if not most cases, the dreams
are  connected with that idea or impression which is
most prominent at the  time  when inhalation com-
mences.
  " Where am I?"  " What have you been doing?"
are  the most common  exclamations of persons recov-
ering from the effects of lethean,  in the manner of a
person who has  fallen  asleep in a strange place, and
at an unusual hour.  On awaking, they gaze around
in amazement, bewildered and perplexed, not knowing
what they have been doing, nor how much  time has
elapsed.   Especially, on recognizing the operator and
the  room, their astonishment is increased; and they fre-
quently suppose  weeks, months, and sometimes even
years, have elapsed since they entered the apartment.
  One peculiarity exhibited by patients having inhaled
lethean, is the amount of time apparently consumed
during the almost momentary operation.
  A stage-driver, who was under its influence not more
than  two minutes, supposed he had driven through
his  entire route, more than twenty miles.
  It is said that  Mahommed lived several years in one
of his visions, travelled thousands of miles, &c.; though
he had, in fact, been confined to the precincts of a tub
of water, into which, for  a  moment, he had  thrust his
head, while in fancy he  had roved almost inimitably. 
72
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
Anyone who administers the lethean, will find that the
race of Mahommed is not yet extinct.
  Gave  the lethean to  a young  lady, aged  nineteen,
the  daughter of a highly respectable gentleman in Ips-
wich, and under  its influence removed four diseased
teeth without pain.   She subsequently declared to her
father, who was bending over her, " that while he could
hear nothing but the crushing of mouldering bones,
she heard the most enchanting music that ever charmed
the  human ear;"  and while the merciless forceps were
deeply  buried in, and   moving  about  swollen  and
inflamed gums (searching out objects of creative an-
guish), and the blood from fractured arteries was pour-
ing from her mouth,  she lay reposing, like some sleep-
ing  fairy, totally  unconscious of the progress of the
operation.
  Strange  indeed is that subtle power, which so de-
lightfully steals through  the frame, binding the giant
like a "strong man  armed," and by its  invisible but
entrancing effect, locking up  every sense from  con-
sciousness of pain,  but diffusing, through countless
nerves which everywhere radiate  and ramify the body,
the  most delightful sensations, when, without its agen-
cy,  the keenest torture must be endured.
  Ordinarily, every nerve is as a telegraphic wire con-
nected with the brain, the great " station," conveying in-
stant intelligence  of the  most trifling injury which the
body receives.  But under the  influence of the lethe-
an,  every nerve has a holiday; and with almost delirious
rapture every little truant sentinel forgets its duty, and
even the brain itself reposes quietly, or revels  in gor- 
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
73
geous day-dreams,  while the  body, placed under its
guardianship,  is  subjected  to all the horrors  of  the
actual cautery, or the surgeon's knife.
   Gave  the lethean to a sailor.  After inhaling it for
about five minutes, he began to show a  little rest-
lessness ; but being apparently insensible, we removed
the mouth-piece, and  extracted a large molar tooth.
After making  some   significant  gestures  with  his
hands, he jumped out  of the  chair, and, looking very
fierce, muttered some unintelligible threats.  In a few
moments, he returned to consciousness.    He stated
that he thought he was in Liverpool, in Mother Baker's
cellar, taking a glass of wine, when some little trouble
occurred, and  a landlubber  threw  a tumbler at  his
head.  " Shiver my timbers!" said he; " I sprang from
the table to knock the  fellow down,  when  I  was
brought up all standing, snug at home, right  side up
on this side the pond."   He mistook the crashing of  a
rotten tooth for the  breaking of a tumbler.
   Gave  the ether  to  a very  large, stalwart man, of
uncommon  muscular  power.   Nearly ten minutes
elapsed before  he was sufficiently under the influence
to justify commencing  operations.   Soon after, he ap-
peared  stupefied; and, though he made some resist-
ance to opening his mouth, I  succeeded in extracting
the tooth requiring removal, when he  immediately
sprung  from the chair, much  excited, and  threatened
to  knock me down.   I asked him for what?  "For
extracting my tooth so  easily."  He swore the tooth
was not out; that we could not fool him; " I know what
you are  about; you have just put your nippers into
             H^ 
74
EEFECTS  OF ETHER.
my mouth and made a motion, and now say the tooth
is out.  You don't humbug me so."  Seeing that op-
position, in  his  present excited state, wxmld  only in-
crease his irritation and tempt hirn to violence, I sooth-
ingly replied, " Well,  perhaps I am mistaken;  I will
examine again; " and taking his hand, placed his finger
in the vacuum lately occupied  by his tooth, which  I
picked up from the floor.  This seemed partly to recall
him to his senses; and between laughing and crying, he
clasped  me round the neck, kissing me, and lifting me
like a child's toy from the floor, till I  released myself
from  his grasp.   Gradually he  calmed  down, finally
declaring  that he  knew nothing  of the extraction of
the  tooth ; nor could I convince him that  he had threat-
ened  me with violence.  In this  case  the  unwashed
ether was used.
  The ether inhaled in this case, was  Fah's best con-
centrated sulphuric ether, but it was unwashed.
  But the purest ether will sometimes similarly affect
some  peculiar temperament; and  to guard  against
any unpleasant occurrence, we  have given directions
respecting it in another place.
  A lady who coughed while  taking  ether,  thought
she was coughing in Mr. Dewey's church, New York,
and was apprehensive of disturbing him.
  One evening a carriage  was driven rapidly to our
door,  and  a gentleman alighted, who requested us to
accompany him with the lethean. We did so, and as we
entered  the  house into which he led us, we heard the
most violent outbursts of unrestrained hysteric laugh-
ter, which  we soon found proceeded from a young'lady 
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
75
who was subject to hysteria ; but in this instance, the
operation of it was unusually violent and protracted.
  She inhaled the ether, at first making some  resist-
ance.  In a few minutes, however, she was in a deep,
calm sleep.  Her mother became alarmed, fearing her
daughter might not wake.  She spoke to her and call-
ed her by name ; but there was no answer.   She took
her hand, shook her, and appeared almost frantic, cry-
ing out that she was dead.   I applied the valve  of the
oxygen bag to her lips, and almost instantly she  began
to assume her natural appearance, and started up and
looked around.   Observing her friends gazing  at her
and at each other with so  much concern, she  looked
surprised and disappointed, and inquired  with great
pathos and earnestness of  her  mother, " why she had
called her back."  " Called you from where ?  " said
her mother.   " Oh ! I was  in such a delightful  place,
with beautiful birds and angels, and  sweet  little chil-
dren !  Why did you call me back ? "
   Gave the  ether  to  Miss B., a highly  respectable
voung lady of Newburyport, and painlessly removed
a tooth.  In this case we used oxygen gas.   She was of
a plethoric habit,  and there was a  delay of returning
consciousness.   She  inhaled   oxygen, and at once
revived.
   A young lady took the ether, and had a tooth  remov-
 ed — thought she had been to church, heard a sermon
 from the Rev. Mr. Stearns, and was totally unaware
 of the extraction.
   We removed six teeth for Mr. H, of the Boston Thea-
 ter, under the influence of  ether.  He most eloquently
 recited a portion of one of Shakspeare's plays. 
76
ETHER IN SURGERY.
   A lady repeated, in her sleep, a poem she could not
repeat when awake.
   Dr. Cross, of Newburyport, wished me to  give the
ether to a sailor, for the removal of a finger joint, exos-
tosis of the bone  having resulted from a neglected
whitlow.  He had suffered for months, and  was de-
prived of sleep for nights in  succession.  He impa-
tiently  declared, " This sucking of  el her is useless,"
and said he should not get asleep. Dr. Cross, however,
at the same time skilfully cut out the first joint of an
index finger,  with such  dexterity that  the  incision of
the flesh, the separation  of the joint, and the removal
of the bone appeared to  be simultaneous.
   During this  operation, he thought  he was on board
the ship, having a fine time with his messmates.  Had
not felt so well for months.  The finger healed rapidly.
   Mr.  J. Dole, of Rowley, Mass., for two  years had
been troubled with a  tumor on the left breast.   Gave
him  lethean.  Dr. Wyman  made an  incision about
five inches in length.   The tumorous  matter was of an
extraordinary character; instead of being consolidated
within the radii  of six inches, there was a cluster of
small tumors  occupying a circumference of eighteen
inches,  all of which he  most skilfully and happily re-
moved.
   Mr. D. was wholly insensible, except for a moment;
while tying an artery, he was slightly conscious of
pain, which  was  instantly dispelled  by another  inha-
lation, and  he lay in a  calm  sleep until  all tumoric
matter was  removed, and the  wound dressed.  On
recovering  and finding  that the tumor was gone, he 
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
77
expressed the  greatest emotions of joy and gratitude,
and  exclaimed,  " This discovery  is from God, not
men!"   Said  he felt no pain,  save a single instant,
and, if  it had continued,  no man could have held
him ; but by the ether, he lay with  his hands and body
in the position of  peaceful  sleep.   So well did he feel,
that he arose immediately and said  " that he was well,
and was going down to  get  some dinner."   What is
remarkable, he not only felt no pain while cutting or
stitching, but none subsequently.
   Dr. D. G. Varney, an assistant  of mine, inhaled the
ether, and painlessly extracted a front tooth for himself.
   Sometimes, when there is a difficulty in inhaling
the ether, the  mind becomes confused, and the effect
is observed.
   A student at  Cambridge thought he  was  undergo-
ing a rigid examination, and was demonstrating one
of Euclid's propositions at  the black board, which sud-
denly turned white, and he  stood confounded, and utter-
ly unable to  see  his  figures just as he was proving
" quod crat demonstrandum."
   Gave the lethean to Mrs. L., and, in the presence of
 the junior editor of the Newburyport Herald, and others,
 extracted twenty-nine diseased teeth and roots.  She
 says, that during  the extraction, and subsequently, she
 suffered  no pain, and her  gums have healed and har-
 dened unusually fast.
   The above and the following  cases have been pub-
 lished.
   Removed a tooth for a lady, after many unsuccess-
 ful  attempts  to remove it, by two  different dentists. 
78          EXPERIMENTS  ON BEES, ETC.

The muscles of her jaw became rigid ; she could not
open her mouth, and was  fed by a spoon  for weeks.
She inhaled ether,  and for  the first time for months,
the muscles  of her face were relaxed, and we removed
the tooth without difficulty.

            EXPERIMENTS WITH ETHER,
On  Bees, Frogs,  Leeches,  Fishes, Dogs,  Chickens,
              and an American Eagle.
  Experiment 1, on Bees. — A full hive contains about
eighteen thousand.   We etherized one box  of about
three  thousand.   We made  three divisions  of them.
On one we sprinkled iced cold  water;  another we left
in the open air; a third we put into a box, through an
aperture of which we introduced oxygen gas.
  The first, treated hydropathically,  revived in twelve
minutes ; those left to themselves, in twenty minutes ;
some of those oxygenated, revived and became sensible
almost  immediately; some of them became so in a
few minutes, and some are insensible yet.
  The ether was given on  a  sponge.  It was of an or-
dinary kind, and contained alcohol, which acted  first
as a powerful stimulant, then as a powerful  sedative.
The oxygen was made of per oxide  of  manganese.
When excited, some of them stung each other; when
sensible, they stung us.   Bees never sting each other;
when attacked by other bees,  they war by biting off
wings  and legs.  A queen  bee never stings  except
when in mortal combat with another queen.   She  may
be cut in pieces, but will not  sting. 
               EXPERIMENTS ON BEES.            79

  Bees know each other by a  peculiar scent of each
hive, and none can enter unless by a satisfactory olfac-
tory examination by  sentinels, identity being of  a
nasal character.  These  etherized  bees were repulsed.
We then etherized the whole swarm, and all were ad-
mitted, for  all were alike.
  In two days we etherized them again, but purified the
ether; that  is, removed  the alcohol.   They were  not
so excited, but fell as if dead.   We had prepared some
oxygen of  a much purer kind ; but before it could be
applied they fled.
  We subsequently etherized a box of bees with  im-
pure  ether, and gave^  them oxygen of a better kind,
which we  made from chlorate of  potassa,  and with
good effect.
  Bees from some other apiary having  attacked and
began to rob a hive, we  made  a little swing door, by
which they could go  in, but not  out.   Having  thus
secured  in  bees  what we lost in honey, we etherized
them, and allowed them, through  a small aperture, to
file out;  and as they did so, we spotted many of them
with vermilion, by a camel's-hair  pencil.  During the
day they came back, having been expelled from their
hives, as we anticipated,
        " For the scent of the ether hung round them still."
  Through the politeness of Hon. E. Mosely, we receiv-
ed a swarm of bees soon after being similarly indebted
to E.  Stedman, Esq.,  for a queenless hive;  by the as-
sistance of  Mr. T. D. Tompson (a pupil of mine), we
etherized both  hives, and removed them by  hand into
another hive without being stung, although  thousands
were handled.  They do well. 
80
EXPERIMENTS  ON FISHES.
  Experiment 2, on Frogs. — These  were particularly
interesting, owing to the transparency of their feet;  as,
by a magnifying glass, thousands of little globules of
blood could be seen chasing each other, more  or less
rapidly, as the ether  affected the circulation.  In some
there  was no pulsation ;  and from  this state of appa-
rent death we revived them by  powerful  shocks  of
electro-magnetism, after  they  had  been insensible sev-
enty-six  minutes.  In  some  cases,  after magnetism
had failed, we put them in cold  water apparently dead,
where they lay two  hours, and  then  exhibited vitality.
When much etherized  with  impure ether, they sunk
immediately to the bottom; when pure ether was ad-
ministered, they floated on the surface.
  Fishes. — In a large glass globe filled with water,  we
etherized several small fishes, by a sponge saturated with
ether, and then sank to the bottom.*   They came to  the
surface with open mouths, for more air; but compell-
ing them  to remain  under water, they soon turned on
their  backs, and lay as if dead; as the ether escaped
they revived.  The body of an  etherized eel was pain-
lessly  divided;  one  part  was  thrown into pure cold
water, and soon  betrayed sensibility by motion.  The
remaining etherized portion  lay in  a quiescent state,
until a stream of pure oxygen gas was forced through
a pipe into  the  water, when muscular activity was
exhibited.

  *  Water not only contains oxygen, but air in its pores. The blood of fishes
is thus oxygenated, as the  water passes through their gills, which are to
them what lungs are to man. 
              RESULT  OF EXPERIMENTS.           81

  A dog which was subject to violent and convulsive
ague fits, was etherized  when  they commenced, and
calmed immediately.
  A large American eagle, whose outstretched wings
measured seven feet, was a subject of our experiments
for upwards of six months, a part of which time, from
three to  twenty times daily, he was etherized, and on
one  occasion, for thirty  consecutive  hours, a sponge
was pinned over his nostrils, and saturated with ether.
A few inhalations made  him insensible, and when so,
electro-magnetism instantly aroused him.
  He would bite  at the metallic button of the  battery,
and holding it in  his mouth, was thus etherized.  The
other button being placed on the flexor muscles, he soon
threw it from him.   Much ether (if impure) caused
convulsions.   The battery removed them.
  A hen was  etherized, on whose breast  the eagle lay
his  head, when as consciousness waned or increased,
the  feathers on his head  bristled, and he made a pass
at the hen, but a cork on  his beak prevented any injury.
  Upon dogs, pigeons, canary birds, and leeches, we
have performed various  experiments, from which we
deduce,
  1st, Impure is  a greater stimulant than pure ether.
  2d, Impure ether prolongs insensibility.
  '3d, The continued and frequent use of pure ether is
comparatively harmless.
  4th, Ether changes the blood to a darker color.
  5th, Tactility may be lost while  the intellect re-
mains.
              i 
82
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
      THE  EFFECTS OF ETHER WHEN INHALED.

  " The first mouthful or two is felt to be harsh, and
unpleasantly pungent; but,  in continuance of inhala-
tion, that feeling gradually disappears, and the sensa-
tion  becomes rather grateful than otherwise—some-
times intensely so, as in the  case of the nitrous oxide
gas; the inhaler obstinately and violently refusing to
forego his delectation, if attempts be made to take the
tube from  him.    Coughing is not always produced,
but more frequently than not; and, in some cases, it
proves so distressing as to impose  on the practitioner
great difficulty in proceeding, even with the best assist-
ance on the part of the patient.  In general, however,
by letting on the  full  supply of ether gradually,  the
coughing  proves slight,  and speedily ceases.  Some-
times a profuse discharge of saliva takes place from
the mouth;  in  almost all  cases,  the secretion  from
the lining membrane of the windpipe  and lungs seems
to be very considerably increased;  and from this latter
cause, a cough, with expectoration, may come on  dur-
ing the latter stage of a prolonged  inhalation, quite in-
dependently of any direct irritation from the pungency
of the ether.  In the course of some time —varying
from one to twenty minutes, but usually within two or
three minutes,  when  the inhalation is duly conducted
from the first— the patient shows signs of a departure
from his ordinary condition.   His  face grows pale and 
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
83
leaden,  sometimes  with a livid- congestion about the
mouth and  nose ;  his eyes are  less brisk  in their
movements, and their glance is less keen ; the eyelids
move sluggishly over the  eyeballs, and tend to droop;
the hands and feet grow very cold, and so do the legs
and arms ;  bent  positions  of the limbs  gradually
relax themselves ; the patient breathes more slowly and
fully; his chest is seen to take in large supplies at each
inspiration.   The pulse has been all along more and
more rapid  in  its beats;  it is now very frequent; and
soon it may run away to nothing, almost  ceasing to
be felt.   The  eyelids are now motionless; on elevat-
ing the upper one, it falls slowly down again, evidently
under no control of muscle.   The pupil of the  eye
began to dilate early; and the dilatation has kept pace
with the progress of inhalation.  The eyeball is now
glassy,  fixed,  often  turned upwards, and thoroughly
' void of speculation.'   Then is the evidence of  full
etherization  complete, and the  operation  may be pro-
ceeded with.
   Such  is  a sketch of the ordinary effects, as observ-
ed ; but there is great  variety.  Sometimes the pupils
are but slightly dilated, if at all; and  sometimes the
pulse, too, is slow  to alter.   Sometimes  the  patient
withdraws the  tube  from time  to  time, to tell his feel-
ings, with great volubility and  energy.   Sometimes,
but  rarely, he  expresses a strong  dislike to it, and is
with difficulty induced to resume its use.   Sometimes
he mutters through  the tube, sometimes incoherently,
sometimes  sanely  enough,  in reference  to  circum-
stances which he observes.  Sometimes he laughs im- 
S4
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
moderately, as if under the influence of nitrous oxide
gas; and yet without recollection of any ludicrous idea
after recovery.  Sometimes he twists his limbs about,
and sometimes he rolls his head from side to side, with
a wild motion of his eye, and with a stupid, yet strong
expression of inquiry in  his gaze.   Sometimes  he
takes  to low moaning  and whining  through the tube;
more  especially if he has been much agitated by pre-
vious  apprehension.  Sometimes he  comes to breathe
more  heavily, and with  a snorting noise that is not
quite  agreeable.   Sometimes a tendency to convul-
sions  manifests itself, requiring  instant  disuse of the
inhalation.
   Supposing the trance complete, the phenomena
educed by the operation  vary.  In general, the patient
remains quiet and motionless,  as  if  inanimate; the
muscles often quivering  slightly, however, at each play
of the knife, as if by the  mere  physiological stimulus
which their contractility receives ; and knitting of the
brows, occasional or fixed, is extremely common ; giv-
ing an  expression by frowning, rather  of annoyance
than of pain.  Sometimes there is  slight shrinking of
the part from the  knife,  the  patient  seeming  to make
some  little  effort to move it away.  Sometimes the
part  is violently  contorted,  requiring more  than the
usual complement of  assistants to restrain it.  Some-
times the patient gives  sundry abrupt loud  exclama-
tions, as if in pain; sometimes he moans and breathes
hard ; sometimes, though rarely, he roars lustily.   And
all this may happen without any sensation, or at least,
without any subsequent  remembrance of pain. 
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
85
  The effects, as indicated by the patient's own recol-
lection, are also various.   In general, they are  some-
what as follows : — A pleasing sense of soothing suc-
ceeds the  first irksomeness of the pungent vapor — a
soothing of both mind and  body.   Ringing  in  the
ears takes place, with some confusion of sight and in-
tellectual perception.   The limbs are felt cold and pow-
erless ; the hands and  feet first, then  the knees;  and
the feeling is as if  these parts had ceased to be pecu-
liar property, and dropped away.  This sensation may
gradually creep over  the whole frame ;  the patient be-
coming, in more senses  than one, truly etherealized;
reduced to the condition of no body and all soul.  The
objects around are either lost sight of or strangely per-
verted ; fancied shadows flit  before the eyes, and  then
a dream sets in — sometimes calm and placid, some-
times otherwise.  Emerging, consciousness and  self-
control return, a tendency to excited talking is  very
manifest, movement is unsteady, and, both in mind
and  body, very unequivocal  signs of intoxication are
declared.   In plain  language, as in plain fact — there
is no disguising it — the  patient is drunk.  The tipsi-
 ness, however, is of  a  light  and airy kind ; very pure,
 very pleasant, and very fleeting; and, when gone, leav-
 ing very little trace behind.   If the ether be good, and
 properly  inhaled, 'there  is  no  headache in  a gallon
 of it.'
    When the  patient awakes fully to consciousness,
 it may be supposed  that  he awakes to much misery,
 because to much pain.  But it  is not so.   Not unfre-
 quenlly, every sense is fully restored, except the sense 
86
EFFECTS OF ETHER.
of pain.   The patient sits up, talks rationally and calm-
ly ; is aware of every circumstance, knows of his wound,
by  seeing and hearing of it, and yet feels no pain; the
smarting of a raw wound  is often  averted  for some
hours in  this way; and  when it does supervene, at
length, there is good reason  to  believe that in  many
cases it comes in a mitigated form.   Often the patient
sobs and cries, immediately or soon after return to con-
sciousness— a state resembling hysteria, or  else very
like the maudlin grief of a drunken man ; but such tears
are no sign  of suffering; on the contrary, they are not
unfrequently the offspring of dreamy joy and gratitude.
  This operation of the ether's  influence is an impor-
tant matter.  It is brief; and yet it is strange that the
ether itself seems to remain long in the  system;  being
plainly and  even offensively perceptible in  the breath,
not merely for hours, but even  for days, after protract-
ed inhalation.^  The full effect seldom lasts above a
few minutes ; time enough for the performance of some
operations;  such as that of tooth-drawing.  When pro-
tracted procedure is contemplated — as in amputation,
stone, rupture, removal of tumors, &c. — the inhalation
is  proceeded with  during the  operation, at what is
termed ' half-speed.'   The ordinary signs having evinc-
ed attainment of the full effect, the operation is begun ;
and then  the  inhalation may be for a few  moments

 *  The rapidity with which ether pervades the whole system, is also well
shown, by amputated parts retaining a strong flavor of  ether, even for
many days after removal; although perhaps not more than two or three
minutes had been spent in inhalation, previous to the making of the incis-
ions. 
EFFECTS OF ETHER.
S7
discontinued,  to be afterwards renewed; or,  what is
better, the  mouth-piece is kept continuously  applied,
the valve, for entrance of atmospheric  air, partially or
wholly open, so as to dilute the vapor.  If, at any time,
the patient show signs of prematurely returning  con-
sciousness, the valve is shut, and the full power of the
ether restored;  the patient being made to breathe much
or little of the  vapor, according to the effects observed.
   At first, it may seem that this brief duration of the
ether's influence is a disadvantage.   The operator soon
learns, however,  that it  is  the contrary.  Prolonged
duration is readily within  his power, by continued in-
halation ; and  much of comfort and safety resides in
the fact of the  effect being transient.
   In general,  no unpleasant sign  showing itself, the
inhalation is carried to the point of complete stupefac-
tion ; and this, as already stated, is sought to be main-
tained by a  continued, though  minor use  of the ether.
A  strange fact, however, is  now to be stated  ; name-
ly, that stupefaction is by no means essential.   Expe-
rience has fully shown that the brain may be acted on
so as to annihilate, for the time, what  may be termed
the faculty of  feeling pain ; the organ of general sense
may be lulled  into profound sleep, while  the organ of
special sense,  and the organ  of intellectual  function
remain wide awake, active, and busily employed.   The
patient may feel no pain under very cruel cutting, and
yet he may see, hear, taste, and smell as well as ever,
to  all appearance.   We have seen a patient follow
the operator with her eyes most intelligently and watch-
fully, as he shifted his place  near her, lifted his knife, 
88              EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
 and proceeded to use it; wincing not at all during its
 use; answering questions by gesture, very readily and
 plainly;  and after the operation was over, narrating
 every event as it occurred — declaring  that  she knew
 and saw all;  stating that she knew and felt that  she
 was being cut,  and yet that she felt no pain what-
 ever.   Patients have said quietly,  'You  are saw-
 ing  now,'  during  the  use of the saw in amputation;
 and afterwards, they  have declared most solemnly, that
 though quite  conscious of that part  of the operation,
 yet they felt no pain.  We have seen a patient endur-
 ing amputation of a limb, without any sign of suffer-
 ing, opening  her eyes during the performance, at its
 most  painful part, descrying  a country practitioner at
 some distance — under whose care she had formerly
 been, and whom she had not seen for some considera-
 ble time — addressing him by name, and  requesting
 that he might not leave town  without seeing her.
   In the  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the  patient
 managed all the details of the inhalation himself, loud-
 ly insisting that the  experiment was quite  a  failure,
 and would never do ; that the matter  must be deferred
 to another  opportunity — and all the  while the  painful
 operation was  busily proceeded with.
   Physiologists are  somewhat puzzled as to  the  ex-
act statement of the effects produced  by ethereal inha-
lation on the  nervous  system.   Of the  brain,  proper,
the spinal system and the ganglionic system —as  the
different  parts of the  nervous system  are termed —
which is the part affected?  Strychnine is supposed to
influence the spinal system mainly; digitalis, the gan- 
CASE OF COMA.
89
glionic; — which does the ether affect ?  It is probable
that the brain proper is the part mainly  influenced ;
and sometimes only a portion of it; for, as has alrea-
dy  been stated, the intellect may be active, and the
special senses, too, may retain all their aculeness, while
the patient is  wholly unconscious of procedure, which
otherwise could not but be accompanied with the sever-
est torture." Tactile sense may be asleep, while intel-
lectual and special sense may be wide awake.
   We have recently been informed that a young lady,
daughter of a very respectable gentleman in Newbury-
port,  visited a dentist to  have a  tooth removed.   She
inhaled  " the  ether,"  and was made  insensible,  and
remained  so  ;  the dentist was alarmed,  and  called
for assistance.  Two physicians came, both of them
being scientific men.   One of them was  one of the
ablest and oldest physicians in Essex  county.   After
laboring some time to resuscitate her. it was observed
that it was of no use;  she was  " as much a corpse as
slue ever would be."   In  this state of coma, or  death-
like sleep, she remained  two hours.  How much ether
she inhaled is  not known.  This  extraordinary case
deserves consideration.   Her prolonged unconscious-
ness,  and  the abortive attempts at resuscitation are re-
markable.  Either the ether was impure, or it was im-
properly given, or  she took  too much.  One of these
positions must be  admitted,  unless the  subject  admits
a fourth alternative, namely, an idiosyncrasy of  con-
stitution.  But we learn there was none ;* and if there

  * Will exclusion of the air from the lungs by closure of the glottis from
spasm of the laryngeal muscle, produce coma ? 
90
CONVULSIONS.
 were,  Drs. Warren and Channing, in letters to  the
 author, deny any bodily liability to  produce a similar
 result.  Dr. Mott admits a disease of the heart or lungs
 might preclude  ethereal vapor,  but we understand
 neither of  these complaints  existed.
   As this case has been much spoken of, and may have
 deterred  some from  availing themselves of the benefit
 of ether,  we think it proper to say,
   1st, We think this state of coma, or prolonged insen-
 sibility, might have been avoided.
   2d,  The protracted interval of two hours is the only
 case on record of similar protracted  insensibility.
   In  our experiments, we have, either by the use  of
 cold water, externally or  internally,  by means of oxy-
 gen gas,  or electo-magnetism, or aqua ammonia, always
 produced restoration.
   Convulsions may occur,  slight  or violent, transient
 or protracted.   Of course, the first appearance of them
 is the signal for  the discontinuance of the ether, which
 is to be resumed, if the operation be not completed,  so
 soon  as  the system  has again become quiet.  Faint-
 ing may take place, the pulse  become very rapid, and,
 at last, imperceptible; and the faintness may prove  of
 such intensity and duration, as to cause serious alarm.
 But this is  not likely to occur,  except in the case  of
 diseased  heart.   Signs of  congestion in  the  brain
may manifest themselves;  the  patient threatening  to
 pass into what is technically termed the condition  of
coma, as indicated by  complete  insensibility, dilated
pupils, relaxed muscles, snoring,  and labored breathing.
 Lastly, the experiment may fail; the patient becom- 
EFFECTS  OF ETHER.
91
ing excited and confused, but not dead to pain.  This
result, however, we feel convinced, will seldom, if ever
occur, when good ether is well administered with suita-
ble apparatus.
   It  is  possible, also, that the irritation of the air pas-
sages may leave some permanent traces behind, threat-
ening to pass on into bronchitis or pneumonia.  Hap-
pily,  however, direct proof of such  casualties, is still
wanting.
   A  feeling of hurry, growing out of the fear  that the
effects of the ether will  pass off before the operation is
completed, should not exist.   Let  every step of every
operation,  says Dr. Channing be proceeded in with the
utmost composure, and the abiding conviction, that the
state which ether has produced may be surely and with
safety continued as long as the circumstances of cases
may  demand.
    The effect of ether  is usually very  different when
taken as a mere experiment, and  as an amusement,
from that  experienced  in the business use  of it,  as
a prelude  and accompaniment to  surgical  operation.
In the  former case, excitement is  very apt  to  ensue,
with restlessness and talking; in the latter, the seda-
 tive  effect  is much  more  speedily  and smoothly at-
 tained.  In fact, there is what is  termed a  tolerance
 of ether, when ether  is really required; just as in  par-
 ticular diseases, whose cure demands certain remedies,
 there is engendered  a tolerance of those remedies  in
 the system.  A grain of tartar  emetic, for example, in
 the  healthy,  produces  great sickness  and vomiting ;
 and  during inflammation of the lungs, the same dose, 
92
FEIGNED  DISEASES.
 or one much larger, may be taken every second hour
 without producing either.   In health, a few ounces  of
 blood taken from the arm  may produce fainting;  in
 serious inflammation, an approach to faintness  will
 seldom be  perceived until  many ounces have  been
 abstracted.   Thirty drops of the tincture  of Indian
 hemp produces, in health, a full narcotic effect, often
 verv unpleasant; in tetanus, the same dose  has been
 given every half  hour to a girl of eleven years of age.
 In health, a grain of opium will produce  heavy sleep;
 in delirium  tremens,  that dose may be repeated every
 hour, until ten times the amount is given, and still the
 patient may be  wakeful as at  first.   A  tolerance  of
 bleeding  is  engendered  by inflammation;  of tartar
 emetic, by inflammation of a certain organ ; of Indian
 hemp, by tetanus; of opium, by nervous excitement
 from  drink.  It would  seem that a like tolerance  of
 ether  is engendered by the occurrence of surgical pain ;
 or perhaps rather by the conviction of its certain ap-
 proach, and the preparation of body and mind suitable
 for its advent.
   In  public  practice,  etherization has  been  found
 very useful in detecting  feigned diseases.  The patient
 having been, nolens volens, thrown into helpless uncon-
 sciousness,  stiff joints have become  supple, crooked
 backs have grown straight, and various other decrepi-
 tudes  have thawed into normal shape and form.
   One field  of  inquiry, vast  and important, seems
just opening to the profession ;  namely, the inhalation
of other remedial agents, in  the form of vapor, with or
without ether — as practised  by Dr. Pearson and others, 
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.             93
in the end of  the  last century.  And who knows, but,
by the resuscitation  of " pneumatic medicine," many
diseases may be brought more  thoroughly under con-
trol; the  remedies, in small  quantity, being  directly
mixed with the circulating blood — borne along there-
by, rapidly pervading the whole system, and both speed-
ily and effectually exercising their remedial agency ? *
  In  order to remove some honest doubts about ether-
ization  that may yet exist, we present to  the reader
the following  communications on  this subject, by sev-
eral distinguished  surgeons  of  this country, viz.:  Dr.
Walter Channing, Dean of the Medical College at-
tached to  Harvard  University, for upwards of twenty
years; Dr. J.  C. Warren, of Boston, the  late distin-
guished surgeon of the  Massachusetts General  Hos-
pital ; Dr.  Valentine  Mott, known not only in this
country  but also in Europe, as one  of the  greatest of
living surgeons.   Having addressed letters  to  these
gentlemen, requesting their opinions on the use of ether
in certain  cases, and the result of their observations as
to its effects in  others, we give  the  following  extracts
from their letters in reply : —

  * According to  Wagner, vaporizable substances thus applied to the bron-
chial cells  " seem to make their way into the blood through the unbroken
vascular membrane, with the same certainty and ease  as when they are
injected directly into the  veins." 
94
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.
                         " Boston, Oct. 26, 1847.
Dear Sir :
  Yours of the 22d inst. is received.  In reply, I would
say to your
  1st question, " of the agency of ether in retarding
the curative process in surgery,"  I  can learn of no
case in which ether  has  retarded the  curative  pro-
cess in surgical operations. A surgeon of much power
of observation and  ample opportunities, to this ques-
tion, answered — No, without qualification.
  2d, I know  of no case  in which ether has  caused
uterine haemorrhage, abortion, delirium, or asphyxia.
  3d, I have  never  known coagulation  of the blood
more perfect than after use of ether in labor.
  Questions 4th and 5th, relating to classes of persons
to whom ether  should not be administered.  I know of
no  such class.  I have known ether used in phthisis
with great comfort to the patient; in  headache, in
cough, in spasmodic diseases;  in one patient who had
suffered from symptoms of diseased heart. #  ^  This
patient  was etherized for nine hours, viz.  from  eight
A.M. to five P.M.
                         Yours truly,
                                  W.  Channing.
To Dr. Mayo  G. Smith,
     Newburyport."

                       " Boston, Oct. 23d, 1847.
Dear Sir :
  The  questions in your  letter, which I received this
day, would require,  to be satisfactorily answered, re- 
important testimony.             95
plies rather more extended than my time will at pres-
ent permit me to devote to them.
  In the mean time, I will state, for your satisfaction,
that the objections to the use of ether, as proposed in
your note,  are without foundation.   [See questions
referred to, in preceding letter.]
                  Respectfully yours,
                                  J.  C. Warren.
To Dr. Mayo G. Smith,
     Newburyport."

                    " New York, Oct. 27th, 1847.
Sir:
   To the questions you ask  in yours of the 22d inst.,
I can make some reply, at least to some of them.
   The use of ether inhalation does not in the least re-
tard the curative process.
   It  does not cause  the  edges of the wound to be
everted or retard the healing.
   Blood  does coagulate  during operations performed
under the influence of ether.
   It must be a mere  assertion  that tubercles of the
 lungs are produced by the  ether.     *    *
              Yours very respectfully,
                               Valentine  Mott.
 To Dr. Mayo G. Smith,
     Newburyport."

   Dr. Crosby, the distinguished Professor of Surgery
 and Obstetrics at Hanover Medical College, has per-
 formed many capital  operations while patients  were 
96
DR.  MORTON.
under the influence of ether; and he recently informed
the author that  he never knew of  an unhappy result.
He has administered it to all classes and constitutions,
and in obstetrics, with remarkable success.
  1st, In all cases for difficult operation prior to inhal-
ing ether, he administers from twenty to sixty drops
of laudanum.
  2d, He places the subject u nder  an intelligent nurse
and allows no conversation.
   William T. G. Morton, who has been  called by
the  London Lancet,  " the unknown dentist  in the
Athens of America," was born in Charlton, Worcester
county, Massachusetts, in 1821.
   At an early age he was thrown upon his own re-
sources.  Pie subsequently made the science of dentist-
ry his study, and unwilling to confine himself to the
mechanical  department, he wished to gain  all neces-
sary medical and surgical  information on the  subject.
He became the pupil of Dr. Charles T. Jackson, and
attended lectures at the Massachusetts  Medical Col-
lege,  " where," says Dr. Jackson, " he dissected, with
diligence and zeal, those parts of the head and throat
particularly important to the surgeon dentist."
  During his  connection  with  the  college, he  was
compelled to witness much pain  in surgical operations,
and his humane mind shrunk from the suffering neces-
sarily  inflicted.   He  was  therefore much  impress-
ed with  the importance of obtaining some  agent to
remove pain, both from its  advantage to  the  operator,
and  its comfort to  the  patient,  as  suggested by the 
DR. MORTON.
97
senior surgeon, Dr. Warren, and his associates, in their
lectures before the medical students.
  Having  closed  his  studies with Dr.  Jackson,  and
his attendance on the college lectures, he resumed his
labors with great assiduity.
  The  great, ever-present  idea  of the  obliteration of
human  pain, followed him ;  and having many teeth to
extract for the insertion  of numerous sets of artificial
teeth, he instituted a series of experiments to enable
him to do  so painlessly.
  He applied, as it was  very natural  he should do, to
his former teacher,  Dr.  Jackson, for advice; who, in
the course of conversation, observed that he had better
be careful, or he would be considered more  of a hum-
bug than Wells, with his nitrous oxide  gas.  " When
I inquired the effect of ether gas," says Dr. M., " Dr. J.
stated that it might  be used, and spoke of its effects
upon college students, and suggested the use of sul-
phuric ether  as an anodyne."
  Dr. Morton, after various experiments, believed he
had found the desideratum, —an object  of unwearied
search by physicians and surgeons of the old and  new
world.
  He applied  to Dr. Warren for an opportunity  to
demonstrate  to the world the practicability of his the-
ory ;  which was promised him on the succeeding  day.
  For the  more  perfect  administration, a  suitable in-
haling vessel was thought  necessary.   In conversation
with  his friend, Dr.  Gould,  the  valvular instrument
was  spoken of, when the  idea was  instantly seized
by Dr. M., who cried eureka,  and rushed, like Archim-
             j* 
98               FIRST OPERATION.
edes from the bath, through the streets of Boston, at the
still hour of midnight, to the residence of Mr.  Drake,
a  well-known philosophical  instrument maker,  and
nervously ringing his door-bell aroused him from his
slumbers, and besought him, as if the destinies of the
world hung upon the issue, to make the inhaler.
   Mr. Drake hurried to  his shop, and  daylight, steal-
ing through its  windows,  found them bending  over
their unfinished task. Hour  after hour passed away,
but he was not  quite ready.  In another  part  of the
city lay a  poor man, awaiting an operation ;  his heart
tremulously alternated between hope and fear, as he
prayed for the arrival of Dr. Morton.
   The hour of trial arrived, but not Dr. M., at the  hos-
pital.   Dr. Warren, after waiting for half an hour,  was
about commencing the operation, when the door open-
ed, and Dr. M.  entered hurriedly, apologized for the
delay,  applied his inhaler, etherized his subject,  pro-
nounced him insensible, and  handed him  over to Dr.
Warren.
   A company of distinguished  surgeons  surrounded
him.   Around the amphitheatre arose lier  upon tier of
students, forming a galaxy of animated faces, influenc-
ed as  by one mind, and  gazing with fixed intensity
upon the scene.   A company of surgeons were around
the body of the subject, on their knees, to witness every
movement of the knife, and the effect of its keen  edge
on the living nerve.  A tumor was to be removed  from
the neck.   An  incision three inches in length  was
made; and, says Dr. Warren, "to  my great surprise,
without any starting or crying out,  or  other indication 
HAPPY  RESULTS.
99
of pain."   All  was  silent even  as  the surrounding
walls, in which had reverberated  unnumbered groans,
and shouts, and cries of agony.
  The operation  was over, and  the sleeper awoke, as
from a dream, inexpressibly grateful that  he had felt
no  pain.   Then  and there, on  the  17th  of October,
1846, in the Massachusetts Hospital,  in Boston, was
witnessed  the first painless surgical operation in the
world's history through the influence of ether.
  October 19th,  Dr.  Hayward  removed  a limb for
an etherized patient.   This was  the first capital opera-
tion ever performed under the influence of ether.
  In both instances the ether was  administered by
Dr. Morton, who  now had Dr. Warren to stand god-
father to his discovery; and Dr. Hayward acted as spon-
sor to an agent calculated to rob earth  of  a  portion of
that  sentence  pronounced against man, and  "his seed
after him," when  God arraigned Adam in  Eden for
trial.
  What must have been the feeling of Warren, now
in the  evening of a  life  made  brilliant and  venera-
ble by professional excellence!  At this decisive  and
eventful moment, it is said, a tear  trembled on his cheek,
and for a moment he was lost in  meditation.
  For centuries surgeons had sought  a means to al-
leviate human  suffering, and they were about  to real-
ize the full fruition  of  their hopes.  This wonderful
news spread rapidly, and thousands of poor dilapidated
specimens of humanity, in hospitals and infirmaries
throughout the world, with straining  eyes  and  out-
stretched arms looked to this land of the pilgrims for 
100
JENNER.
this heaven-sent boon to the  human race.   Who can-
not rejoice that in the good providence of God, when so
many contingencies occur,  in a  world of casualties
like ours, there exists a means of sufficient potency to
enable us effectually and harmlessly to remove human
pain ?  Who more  rejoice than woman, for the remis-
sion of any portion  of a sentence she has long borne,
and which was  primarily passed on the morning of
creation upon the mother of us all ?
  Who does not rejoice  that its discoverer should be
an American ?  " It is," says the  London Lancet, " a
high honor to our  transatlantic brethren, next to the
discovery of Franklin; it is the second and greatest
contribution of the new world to science, and it is the
first great addition to the medical art."
  For the discovery of vaccination, the  world honored
Jenner.  In 1775 Jenner was a  medical student  in
England.
  A peasant girl came into the office of his preceptor,
and laughingly told him she would never  take  the
small-pox, because   she had  observed that those who
milked the cows  and received from them the kine-pox,
never took the small-pox.  The same  fact had been
observed in other dairy counties.   This  conversation
impressed the mind of Jenner, who startled England
in 1796, by announcing his  prevention  for this  loath-
some  disease.  Yet  Jenner was opposed.
  A distinguished physician stated that  it  would make
men roar like bulls, and convert those wTho were vac-
cinated  into a kind of mongrel,  half animal and half
man.   A clergyman denounced it from  the pulpit, and 
JENNER  AND MORTON.
101
averred this vaccination was the same kind with which
God permitted Satan to inoculate his servant Job.  A
Philadelphia medical  publication denounced it as in-
delicate.
  Poor Jenner came to the United States, and landed
at Boston, where enraged  men sought him  for days,
with ropes in their hands,  threatening to  hang  him
upon the first tree.
  Dr. Waterhouse, a  Professor of Yale  College, per-
mitted his family to be vaccinated, and  soon Jenner
was almost worshipped by the same phrenzied popu-
lace that sought his life ; and in two or three years after,
every man, woman, and child was inoculated in a sin-
gle week.
  Thus  we see Jenner  applied, but did not discov-
er;  his application,  however, constituted discovery.
Opposition to a  principle never proves it to be incor-
rect.   If Jenner was rewarded for the mere application
of a remedy, ought not Dr. Morton to be rewarded for
applying, if not  originating, his lethean ? 
 
GLOSSARY
OF  TECHNICAL  AND
Albumen, a viscous  fluid without
  taste or smell.
Allopathy (Greek,  uTQuoc, other, and
  7ra#oc, condition), a method of cur-
  ing disease by producing a condi-
  tion of  the  system,  inconsistent
  with the existence of the disease.
Alumen, an earth,  or  earthy sub-
  stance.
Alveolar, containing sockets like the
  jaw, in which are placed the teeth.
Amaurosis, a  loss or decay  of the
  sight,  without any visible defect in
  the eye.
Anastomosis,  the communication  of
  vessels with one another.
Avimalctde, a  small  animal invisible
  to the naked eye.
Anodyne,  a medicine  which allays
  pain and causes sleep.
Antiseptic, opposing or counteracting
   putrefaction.
Anterior, before.
Articulation, the joining or juncture
   of bones or teeth.
Assay, the trial of the purity, weight,
   value, &c. of metallic substances.
Atrophy, a gradual wasting away
SCIENTIFIC   TERMS.
  without any visible cause.
Biciispides (Latin, bis, two, and cus-
  pis, a point), the teeth immediate-
  ly posterior to the cuspid or canine
  teeth.
 Calcined, made friable by heat
 Calcareous, of the nature of lime.
 Calculus, gritty, hard, like stone.
 Canine,   sharp-pointed  teeth,  like
  dogs' teeth,  from which the name
  caninus is derived.
 Capillary, fine long tubes resembling
  a hair.
 Carbon, pure charcoal.
 Carotid arteries, two arteries which
  convey the blood from the aorta to
  the brain.
 Cartilage, gristle,  a smooth,  solid,
  elastic substance,  softer than bone.
 Cataplasm, a  poultice.
 Cathartic, a purgative medicine.
 Caustic, having the quality of  burn-
  ing, corroding,  or destroying ani-
  mal flesh.
 Cellular membrane, in animal bodies,
  is composed of an infinite number
  of  minute  cells, which communi-
  cate with each other. 
104
GLOSSARY.
Cephalic, pertaining to the head.
Chyme, that  particular  modification
  of food which it assumes after it
  has undergone the action of the
  stomach.
Cicatrix, a scar, a little  seam or ele-
  vation of the flesh, remaining after
  a wound or ulcer is healed.
Cicuta, a poisonous plant, often call-
  ed water hemlock.
Condyle  (Latin, condylus)  a protu-
  berance on  the end of a bone, a
  knot or joint, knuckle.
Condyloid process, the posterior pro-
  tuberance at the extremities of the
  under jaw.
Corrosive, having the power of eat-
  ing or wearing gradually.
Cuspidati (from Latin, cuspis,  point-
  ed), the teeth situated immediately
  after the incisors.
Cutaneous, belonging to the skin.
Cuticle, outer coat of the skin.
Deciduous, the first teeth.
Decoction, a liquid obtained  from a
  substance boiled in water.
Dens, a tooth.
Depletion, the  removal  of the blood
  in the  vessels  by  venesection ;
  blood-letting.
Dexter jaw, the right jaw.
Diagnostic, distinguishing character-
  istic,  indicating  the  nature  of a
  disease.
Diagnosis, the distinctive knowledge
  of a disease.
Diathesis, particular disposition  or
  habit of* body.
Digastric, having a double belly, a
  name given to a muscle of the low-
  er jaw.  -
Digitalis, a plant, usually called fox-
  glove.
Duct, a channel for the fluids of the
  body.
Dysopsy, dimness of sight.
Ecchymosis (e/c^v/juertc), in medicine,
  an appearance of livid spots on the
  skin,  occasioned by  extravasated
  blood.
Edentate (Latin, edentatus), destitute
  or deprived of teeth.
Ellipsis, an oval figure.
Emphysema, in  surgery, a puffy tu-
  mor, easily yielding to pressure.
Epilepsy, a disease accompanied with
  spasms, or convulsions, and loss of  •
  sense.
Equilateral,  having  all  the sides
  equal.
Erosion (Latin, erosio), the  state of
  being eaten away; corrosion, can-
  ker.
Excision, the cutting out or oflf of a
  tooth, or any part of the body.
Exostosis, unnatural protuberance of
  a tooth or bone.
Expectorant,  any  medicine which
  promotes discharges from the lungs.
Fauces, (the plural of Latin, faux),
  the top of the throat.
Filament, fine threads, of which flesh,
  nerves, and skin are composed.
Fossa,  a kind of cavity in a bone,
  with  a large aperture.
Fossil,  petrified, organic  substance,
  dug from the earth.
Friable, easily crumbled or  pulver-
  ized.
 Gangrene, to become mortified.
 Gastric, a fluid separated  by the ca-
  pillary vessels of the  stomach; the
  principal solvent of the food. It has
  a saltish taste ;  is inodorous.
 Gomphosis, the connection of a tooth
  with its  socket. 
GLOSSARY.
105
Gland,  a distinct soft body which
  secretes some fluid from the blood.
Graminivorous, subsisting on grass.
Granulated, formed into grains.
Gypsum,  plaster of Paris, sulphate
  of lime.
Ucemorrliage, flow of blood from rup-
  tured blood vessels.
Hemicrany, a pain that affects only
  one side of the head.
Homeopathy, the  theory of curing
  diseases by  producing  affections
  similar to the disease.
Hygenia, health, that  department of
  medicine which  treats of the pre-
  servation of health.
Hyoides, bones of the tongue.
Imponderable,  not having sensible
  weight.
Imputrescible,  not  subject to putre-
  faction.
Incarnaiive, a  medicine  that pro-
  motes the growth of new flesh, and
  assists  nature in the healing xof
  wounds.
Incisor (from Latin incido, to cut), a
  fore-tooth which  cuts,  bites, or
   separates.
 Inferior, lower.
 Inosculation, the union of two vessels
   of an animal body at their extrem-
   ities, by which a communication is
   maintained.
 Inspiration, the act of  drawing  air
   into the lungs.
 Integument, that  which  invests or
   covers another thing.
 Labiodental (Latin, labium and dens),
   formed by the co-operation of the
   lips and teeth, as in the pronuncia-
   tion of/"and v.
 Lachrymal, pertaining to tears, con-
   veying tears.
Lamina, a thin plate or scale.
Lateral, pertaining to the side.
Levator (from Latin levare, to lift),
  a muscle, whose office it is to raise
  or elevate certain parts.
Ligament, a  strong,  compact sub-
  stance binding one bone toanother.
Ligature, a cord or string for tying
  the blood-vessels to prevent hem-
  orrhage.
Linguadental (Lat. lingua and dens),
  formed and uttered by the joint use
  of the tongue  and teeth, as in the
  pronunciation of d and t.
Lithodeon,  a Greek word,  meaning
  " stony batter."
Luxation, the act of lifting a tooth,
  or moving or forcing a bone from
  its proper place.
Macerate, to remove flesh  by soak-
  ing or steeping.
Malformation, bad formation.
Maxillary sinus, the cavity between
  the exterior aud interior plates of
  the jaw bone.
Meatus, a passage.
 Membrane, an extensive fibrous sub
   stance which  envelopes   different
  parts of the mouth and the body.
 Molar (molaris, to grind), the grind-
   ing or double teeth.
 MoUient, softening, assuaging.
 Morphine, a  poisonous  vegetablef
    extracted from opium.
 Mucus, a moistening viscid fluid, se
   creted by the mucous membrane.
 Necrosis  (veicpucic),  the  dry  gan-
   grene, a species of mortification,
   a disease which affects  the bones
   and  teeth.
 Nitrogen, the element of nitre ; that
   part of the air sometimes called
    azote. 
106                         GLOSSARY.
 Occiput, the back part of the skull.
 (Esophagus,  the  gullet, or  canal,
  through which food passes to the
  stomach.
 Opaque, not transparent.
 Osseous, bony, or resembling bone.
 Ossify, to change to bone.
Parotid, certain glands  below and
  before the  ears, or near the articu-
  lation of the lower jaw.
Parietes, walls, or those parts which
  form an enclosure.
Pathology, explanation of the nature,
  causes, and symptoms of diseases.
Pepastic, a medicine  to help diges-
  tion.
Periosteum, a nervous, vascular mem-
  brane, endued with quick  sensi-
  bility, immediately investing the
  bones or teeth.
Peripneumony,  an inflammation of
  the lungs, or some part of the tho-
  rax.
Pliarynx, the upper part of the gul-
  let, below the larynx.
Phlogistic, a  natural degree of vital
  energy  and strength  of action in
  the heart and arteries, inflamma-
  tory.
Phrenitis, an inflammation of the
  brain, attended with fever and de-
  lirium.
Platina, a metal nearly of the  color
  of silver, the heaviest  and one of
  the most valuable of the metals.
Plexus, any union of  vessels, nerves
  or fibres, in the form of net work.
Posterior, behind.
1 osterior tooth, a tooth back of ano-
  ther.
Process, any protuberance, eminence,
  or projecting part of the bone or
  jaw.
Pterygoid process  (from peterux, a
  wing), and eidos, likeness), is  so
  called from its likeness to a wing.
Rachitis, inflammation of the spine.
Ramus, a branch of the jaw.
Resolution,  the  disappearing of any
  tumor without suppuration ;  the
  dispersing of inflammation.
Salivate, to excite an unusual secre-
  tion and discharge of saliva; it is
  usually done by means of mercury.
Scarify, to  make  small incisions  in
  the skin or gums.
Scirrhus, a  hard tumor usually pro-
  ceeding from  the induration of a
  gland, often terminating in a cancer.
Scorbutic,  affected with scurvy.
Sensorial, pertaining  to  the brain
  and nerves.
Septic, that  which  promotes the pu-
  trefaction  of bodies.
Sinister, left, the opposite of dexter.
Sinus, a cavity in a bone or jaw,  or
  other part, wider at  the bottom
  than at the entrance.
Slough, the  part that separates from
  a  foul sore, as  the  dead  part  in
 •mortification.
Splanchnology (Greek, anfaiyxvaand
  toyoc), description of the internal
  parts of the body.
Staphylorapky, a remedy for palatine
  deformity.
Sthenic (Greek,  o&voc), in medicinei
  that which increases the vital en-
  ergy and  action in the heart and
  arteries; phlogistic.
Strumous, having  swellings in the
  glands.
Styptics, articles of a binding quality,
  to stop haemorrhage.
Sublimated, brought into a state  of
  vapor by heat. 
GLOSSARY.
107
Sudorific, a medicine that produces
  perspiration.
Soporific, producing sleep.
Superior, upper.
Suppuration,  the  formation of the
  purulent matter in a wound or ab-
  scess.
Suture, the union of bones with den-
  tiform margins.
Tlierapeutics, that part of dentistry
  or medicine which relates to the
  discovery and application  of reme-
  dies.
Thorax, that part of the human skel-
  eton, which consists of the bones  of
  the chest; also the cavity itself.
Thyroid (Greek,  tfvpeoc and e«5oc),
  a term applied to one  of the carti-
  lages of the larynx.
Trachea, a cartilaginous canal, thro'
  which the air passes to the lungs.
Tumefied, swelled, enlarged.
Turgid, unnatural distension, by the
  operation of some internal agent.
Tympan (Latin, tympanum),  the hol-
  low part  of the  ear, behind the
  membrane of the tympanum.     ,
Uvula, a soft, round, spongy body,
  suspended from the palate near the
  foramina of the nostrils, over the
  glottis.
Vascular, full of vessels, or consisting
 of vessels, such as veins, arteries,&c.
Vesicle, a little bladder, or  a portion
  of the  cuticle  separated  from the
  Bkin, and filled with humor.
Virus, foul or contagious matter of an
  ulcer;  poison.
Viscera, the contents of the abdomen
  and thorax.
Viscid, glutinous, sticky, not readily
  separated.
Vitreous, pertaining to, consisting of,
  or resembling glass.
Vitrify, to convert into glass by fu-
  sion, or by the action of heat.
Vomic nut, or nux vomica,  the seed
  of the  Strychnos nux  vomica — a
  tree in  India.   It is not emetic.
Xerodes, a tumor  attended  with dry-
  ness.
Xiphoid, or ensiform cartilage, is that
  which is situated at the base of the
  breast bone.
Zygomatic (Greek, gevyua), pertain-
  ing to a bone of the head; called,
  also, os jugale,  or cheek  bone ; or
  to the bony arch under which the
  temporal muscle passes.
Zygomatic muscles, the muscles which
  rise from the zygomatic bone, and
  are inserted into the corner of the
  mouth; the zygomatic suture is
  that which joins the zygomatic pro-
  cesses  of the temporal and cheek
  bones. 
 
ADVERTISEMENTS.
            No. 38 Tremont Row, Boston,
                   Manufacturer of

       ©uQaa&i   ?astfa9
          Single or in Blocks to order.  A large stock of

Gold   Plate,  Gold  and  Platina  Wire,  Gold and
                   TIN  FOIL,
    INSTRUMENTS, DENTISTS' MINERALS, &C.
                   Constantly on hand.

                GOLD  FOIL.


                    Manufacturer of
              GOLD  AND TIN FOIL.
        Rear  of 39 Washington Street,  Boston.

              0.  P.  DRAKE,
       182  WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON,
                    Manufacturer of

Philosophical  & Dental Instruments,
   And Dental Lathes, with Improved Blow-Pipe attached, mounted
               on Mahogany or Marble Tables.
          IMPROVED  INHALERS,
Also, Cases of Instruments, Apothecary and Laboratory Scales and Weights
    on hand, and neatly put up at order. 0^=* Orders by Express
               or Post promptly attended to.

  The undersigned would  inform the Dental Profession, Druggists,
     and those who deal in Teeth, that lie has removed his

                MANUFACTORY
                        OF


               FROM NO. 4 MURRAY,
       TO WO. 78 CHAMBERS STREET,
  Where he will continue to keep a good supply of  all articles
              used by the profession, such as
 GOLD  AND STANIEL FOIL, INSTRUMENTS, DENTAL CHAIRS,
              LATHES, EMERY WHEELS, &c.
                                  JAMES ALCOCK,
N. York, Oct. 1, 1^47.                      7S  Chambers Street. 
ADVERTISEMENTS.
IMPORTANT  TO TEACHERS  AND SCHOOL COMMIT-
                              TEES.
                NEW SERIES  OF READING BOOKS,
         By Joshua Leavitt, Author of Leavitt's  Easy Lessons*

                   JOHN  P. JEWETT &, CO.
             23  Cornhill,  Booksellers' Row,  Boston,
 Publish one of the most valuable and elegant Series of Readers for Com-
        mon Schools which have ever been offered to the educators of
               youth, comprised in four Books, as follows :
   Tlie Primer or First Book, or Little Lessons for Learners, containing  72
 pages ISmo., elegantly illustrated with numerous designs by Mallory,print-
 ed on new type and superior paper, and bound in full cloth with gilt sides—
 making a serviceable, elegant and attractive book for a child.
   The Second Book, or Leavitfs Easy Lessons,  is a  work which has been
 so universally approved  by the best teachers in New England for twenty
 years past, that no further recommendation is needed. This is substantially
 the same work with a new Introduction.  Its external appearance is very
 unlike its predecessors.   The present  edition is printed from new type, on
 superior paper, elegantly and substantially bound in embossed morocco,
 with cloth sides and gilt title, 180 pages, ISmo.
   Tlie Third Reader is of the same general  character as  the Easy Lessons-,
 but more advanced, intended for older  scholars.  The sprightly and attrac-
 tive style and spirit of the Second Book runs through the Third.  Great
 eare has been taken in the selection of pieces, to get  such as are calculated
 to interest the youthful mind, believing that it is next to impossible to teach
 a child  to read well  from  a  heavy, dull, prosy, uninteresting text book.
 I2mo., 210 pages, printed and bound in the best manner.
   The Fourth Reader is intended for the higher classes in Common Schools,
 and  contains pieces of stffl higher character than those in the preceding
 books.  The author has  studiously avoided the  introduction into this vol-
 ume, of extracts from elabovbte Essays,. Speeches, Dissertations, fa. fa., and
 has aimed to meet the wants of the scholar in the school-room.  He  has
 selected and arranged such pieces as are calculated to arouse and inspirit a
school, and make good readers, and has rejected many  pieces of sterling
character, and of great literary merit, deeming them altogether above the
comprehension of the mass of scholars  in  our Common Schools.
  The attention of Teachers and School Committees is particularly called
to the elegant and substantial style of this series of Readers, to  the paper
printing, and binding, and also to the Very Low Price at which the pub'
hshers have  determined  to  sell them.   We hope for large  sales, and shall
be satisfied with small profits.
                                        JOHN  P. JEWETT & CO. 
ADVERTISEMENTS.
              JAMES   FRENCH,

           No.  78  Washington  Street, ■ • • • Boston,

Publisher,  Importer, and  Dealer  in  School  and

                  Miscellaneous  Books,
    Gold and Steel Pens, Ink, Paper and Stationery of every variety.

  James French publishes  The Massachusetts State Record and Year
Book of General Information; Adams's new Directory for the City of Bos-
ton ; Art of Conversing; Floral Gems ; Zion; Triune ; Sunshine and Shade;
Thy Sociable Story Teller ;  The Vacation ;
                 CONSUMPTION  PREVENTED ;
Passion and other Tales; The Dream Fulfilled,or the Trials and Triumphs
of the Moreland Family; One-Eyed Dick; The  Cooper's  Son, or Prize of
Virtue;  Foster's Book  Keeping by Double and Single Entry; French's
System  of Practical Penmanship;  Beauties of Writing;  Boston  Copy
Book ; Ladies' do. ^ Elementary do.;  French's Practical Writing  Book in
three Nos.; Boston School Writing Book  in six Nos.; Ladies'  and Gentle-
men's Writing Book, with a copy on each page; the Congregational Almanac.

               Chevalier's  Depot
                        For the sale of his
        CELEBRATED  DENTAL HTSTRUMENTS,
               No. 184 Broadway, New York.
All orders by Mail or by Express, enclosing the cash, or through some respec-
table resident of this city, for Instruments,  Gold Foil, Teeth, Operating
Chairs, and every thing appertaining to Dentistry, promptly attended to,
and on reasonable terms.


                  CLARK    BACON,
                         Manufacturer of
GOLD LEAF, AND SUPERIOR GOLD  AND  TIN FOIL,
                 AND  DENTISTS' PLATE.
                   (All warranted first quality,)
              Rear No. 35 Washington Street---Boston.

            TO  SURGEONS  AND DENTISTS.



                             No. 12S Washington Street, Boston,
                           Manufactures, repairs, and tempers all kinds
                               of Instruments for Surgeons and
                                         Dentists.

                             Also, has Gold  Plate,  Foil, and Teeth.
                         | Orders from  the country,  by  the post  or
                           express, promptly  attended to.  Cases  of
                           instruments made and sent per order.
 
ADVERTISEMENTS.
NEW   MUSIC    BOOK.
THE  PARLOR  HARP  AND BOSTON SOCIAL MELO-
                              DIST,
  Containing a Selection of the most popular English, American, and Ger-
man Melodies, consisting of Songs, Glees,  Catches, Anthems,  Rounds, De-
votional Melodies, Chants, fa. fa., adapted to the Family Circle, Social
Parties, High Schools, and Musical Associations, arranged and harmonized
for four voices and the Piano-Forte.  By Asa Fitz.  Published  by John
P. Jewett  & Co. 23 Cornhill, Boston.
  The following are among the many highly commendatory notices which
it has received: —
  " The Parlor  Harp and Social Melodist. — Such is the euphonious and
appropriate title of a  new and elegant Song Book, by that veteran in the
science of  pure  melody, Asa Fitz, Esq.   A book of this kind, among so
much musical ' truck '  as has been within a few years past  palmed upon
the public, ought to be appreciated and patronized by a discriminating com-
munity. A good feature in the work, which we would here note,  is its va-
riety. We dislike monotony in a song book, as much as in singing itself ;
and we are entitled to say that Mr. Fitz has shown his excellence of taste
and judgment in this respect, in a degree which we are not aware has been
exhibited by any of the numberless music-wrights hereabout — even those
who publish " under the sanction of the" Screech  Owl or Black  Crow
" Academies of  Music."  We  have here, in convenient juxtaposition, the
most delightful songs, glees, catches, anthems, chants, &c. &c, both original
and selected — and among the  latter, some fine pieces from the English and
German masters, some of which we would be  glad to transcribe  into our
columns for the benefit  of our readers (for where is the temperance man
or woman  who does not sing ?) — were it in our power.
  Such a  book as this, designed  as it  is for the family circle,  for high
schools, and musical  associations, will, we hope, get into general  use, and
thus supply an important desideratum among the lovers of true song. The
mechanical execution of the work  is an honor to the American press; and
we would  ask all who have not seen it, to oall on Messrs. John P. Jewett
& Co., 23  Cornhill." — N. E.  Washingtonian.

  " The Parlor Harp is the title of a new and most interesting collection
of music, by Mr. Fitz, author of many well known musical works.   It com-
prises the most popular English,, American, and  German Melodies, includ-
ing songs,  glees, catches, anthems, rounds, devotional melodies, chants, &c,
adapted to the family circle, &c.  We commend this fine collection to all
lovers of the art." — Zion's Herald.
!