Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-25

One for this renewed interest in DIR. Long
on the part Of the English medical society is that
when the late King Edward awakened from his ether
zed sluber after operation. Of his first
uons was; Who discovered ether?" "Dr. Crawford
Long your majesty" was the answer. AS the king
showed an interest in the afterwards,
presented with biography OF DR.. Long which had
been written by British physician. king later
acknowledged this book by an autographs letter
When the Pathological museum of London was
placed recently by tbs Medical the family of
Dr. Long was invites u EXHIBIT there the original
pers proving his claim - discovery of ether and
these were given prominent pAuue in the new mu
scum Since the proofs of no other claimant 70 the
discovery asked for this was itself virtual
Acknowledgement of the acceptance of DR.. Longs
claim on the part of the British medical profession
Even before this official recognition, the
principal anesthesists years given
DR. Long the credit for the discovery and have so IN
structed the students in their medical colleges In the
United States his country, DR.. Long has not
comparatively recent date Students have gen
orally been taught that the discovery of ether in
dispute and not to be credited to any man.
Now. however there is a definite movement to ac
knowledge the debt owed to DR.. Ions. Within year
two his statue will have place statuary hall in
the national capitol at Washington; the Medical soc-
and the infirmary connected with the University Of
Georgia is also Long memorial
The University Of Pennsylvania recently dedicat
ed memorial tablet to Dr. Long in the presence of
large company OF physicians and other public men
The tablet was unveiled by Mrs Frances Long Taylor,
daughter Of the DISTINGUISHED physician, and two
other daughtefs mad seats upon the PLATFORM. Ao-
dresses made by Dr. william White, OF the Uni
VerSity Pennsylvania. j. c..
ferson Medical college demonstrating the unity OF feel
ing between these two well known institutions regard
ing this subject The tablet designed by Dr. TAFT
Mackenzie Of the University of Pennsylvania 1t rep
resents Dr. Long as young man. administering ether
effective and is considered fitting tribute to dis
eovery which has each become of greater benefit
to mankind. DR.. Long for a year student IN
the University of Pennsylvania.
According to friends Of Dr. Long the story is about
as follows The discovery of anesthesia attend
ed by of the bitter and acrimonious disputes
in the history of medicine. The credit it
claimed by no less than five physicians and dentists
DR.. Long made his discovery in 1912. but it not
made public. Two years later. DIR. Horace Wells.
dentist Hartford. Conn. after lecture on nitrous
oxide gave himself the and allowed another dem
fist pull of his teeth He felt pain and upon
reganng consciousness is credited with the oft quot
ed remark "A new era in tooth pulling" Another
physician named Marcy claimed TO have suggested
that ether would produce the effect and require
simpler apparatus than the nitrous oxide gas. DIR.
upon a patient rendered unconscious by the drug.
Whether he did not, the date claimed for it
two years after the first eherized operation Of Dr.
Long
Another claimant DR.. Charles T. jackson, who
was consulted by Dr. w g. r. Morton dentist OF
Boston, regarding the possibility Of procuring
substance that would annul the pain of surgical
lions and the extraction Of teeth DR.. Jackson sus-
gested the Of sulphuric ether saying that would
to the scientific world for years. but Dr. Jackson went
further in the matter.
DR. Morton accepted the suggestion and made many
experiments. The first public performed IN
John c. Warren upon patient who had been etheriz
ed by DR.. Long The operation consisted in removing
a tumor from mans neck and similar to the
performed by DR.. Long in Georgia about years
earlier After this followed the discussion Thou
sands of pamphlets were published by the northern
and scattered throughout this country and Eu-
rope. Morton and Jackson secured recognition from
the French academy. joint patent right receiv-
ed in the United States controlled by Morton with
concessions to Jackson. An effort made 10 Sc
grant from the United States government OF
100000 in honor of the discovery of these
This contest continued about five years Dr. Long
part any Of these measures. excepting that
at the insistence of his friends he induced to
write description of his work Senator Dawson.
Georgia had charge Of the bill in congress- Civ
ing the facts which he had several years before
presented the Georgia Medical society.