Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1880-09-10
CHARLES THOMAS JACKSON.
The Man Who Claimed to be the Inventor
of lcgraph and of Anaesthesia.
New York Sun.

-'>'' ''>N.''
DR.. Charles Thomas Jackson, the ply
sicist, died in Somerville, Mass on Sun
day, after long illness. 1t is many
years since he retired to life of quiet
and seclusion, but his name is still fam
liar to old newspaper readers from his
controversies with the late Professor
Samuel L. B. Morse and DIR. w. Il. A.
Morton.
His dispute with Prof. Morse was to
the priority Of the discovery OF the ap-
plicution Of electricity to telegraphy. In
October, 1882, DIR. Jackson and Prof.
ship Sully, from Europe to this city.
perimenting with an electromagnct and
galvanic batteries. Prof. Morse and
other passengers were all interested in
the experiments, and DIR. jackson aver
red that he then demonstrated how cleo
tricity could be'uscd for correspondence.
In 1884 DIR. jackson claimed to have con-
structed and successfully operated tel
egraph on the plan that he described in
the voyage on the Sully. The machine
that he then made could not be utilized
on an extensive scale, owing to the diff
Guilty of getting steady and continuous
current OF electricity. The invention of
the sustaining battery by Daniel i'll 1897
obviated this difficulty. In the latter year
Dr. jackson and Prof. Morse began their
famous controversy over the priority of
discovery, which lasted for many years.
Many volumes OF evidence on each side
were adduced, and law suits over patents
were begun in several courts. DR.. Jack
son always averred that he was the first
| discoyCrer of the American telegraph
that patented by Prof. Morse, in 1910,
and many men of science believed his
claims to be well founded. After his
telegraph experiments, DIR. Jackson
practiced medicine which he soon gave up
to devote himself to geology. He was
state geologist i'll Maine, and afterwards
held that same position in Rhode Island
and New Hampshire. He was the dis
coverer of the copper and iron fields O.
Lake Superior, which he explored il
1914.
The controversy with DR.. Morton
above referred to, was over the discover,
of ether as an an;psthetic. The discov
cry was made at the time DIR. jackson
was practicing medicine, but was no
claimed by him at the time. His clam
was that in 1884 he found by experimen
that an alcoholic solution of chloroforr
applied to a nerve made it insensible t.
pain. He had previously experiments,
with protoxide of nitrogen, with less sal
isfactory results. In 1S41 he tried til
effects of pure sulphuric ether, mingle
with atmospheric air, upon himself an
inhaled it until he lost all consciousness
This experiment he pronounced entirel
successful. In 1912 he inhaled ether t
allay the pain he suffered from an acc
2 dental inhalation Of chlorine. This lie
!, him, he afterward said. to dcclnl
"that surgical operation could be pc
formed on a.patient under the intluent
OF snlphuric ether without giving In
e any pain" Dr. Morton, however appea
e to have first applied ether in an oper
: ton performed by him in 1916, and
f have experimental with it some yea
j previous to that time. The respect,
claims of Drs. Morton and Jackson f
: the credit of the discovery of the anae
G thetic were supported by hosts of ply.
clans and men Of science, and the co
troversywas waged for years with gre
bitterness. The French academy, viii,
e had offered prize Of 5000 francs for Il
IL discovercr, divided that sum between Il
u two claiments, holding that DR.. Jacks,
;, discovered etherization, and that /
y Morton first applied it in surgical oper
q tions. DR.. Morton refused to take t
y. award made to him, and the academy .
terward gave him gold medal. l
Morton strove for years to have his clai
properly recognized. He became utter
bankrupt, and his home was sold +
y debt. Congress was importuncd to gra
= u him 100000 as IL national testimoni
" and hundreds of physicians and otht
~ ~ signed the petition. DR.. Jackson, on t
n other hand, sent to congress petit
"a "a signed by l43 physicians of Boston al
,e vicinity, certifying that the discove
T. was exclusively his. DIR. Morton's De
W >. tion was defeated, but in test s,
40 40 againsta q hospital surgeon who had :
80 10 piled ether according to his method
'e gained his point, the United States co,
sustaining his claim. DIR. jackson s.
had his adhcrents, who contended Il
wv he, nnd not DIR. Morton. was the disc
e. erer, and the controversy went on III
n DIR. Morton died. 1t is said that
mt Morton's death was caused by excl
on ment over an article which attempted
show that he was not the discoverer
annthosia. The citizens of Boston !re
ed n monument to his memory, bear
M the inscription: "Wm. r. G. Mort
,e- Inventor and Revcaler of .Annstl,
: 1nhalation.' This aud other recol