Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-02
HONOR GEORGIAN
AS DISCOVERER
OF ANAESTHESIA
BY J, S, MILLS

On March 80, 1912, in the presence
of some Of the most noted physicians
Of America, a bronze medallion in
honor of DR.. Crawford w. Long, dis
coverer Of anesthesia. was unveiled
at the University of Pennsylvania.
On May 81, 1920, near the scene
of the discovery in the town of JEFF
ferson, a monument to DIR. Long was
unveiled by the State Medical asso-
citation.
In 1879 Mr.. Henry L. Stewart, of
New York, presented to the Georgia
legislature handsome life-Size por-
trait Of DR.. Long which was formal
ly, rendered by General John B. Cor
don. I suppose this portrait still
adorns the capitol.
Mr.. Stewart was present on this
occasion, and, after the ceremonies,
left for Athens to visit DR.. Longs
grave. While there he was fatally
stricken with paralysis. In accord
ance with his wishes his remains
were inferred in Oconee cemetery in
the same lot with the discoverer of
this great boon to mankind.
The republic of France has Off
cially paid tribute to DR.. Long, and
if my recollection is not at fault
erected a monument in his honor
many years ago.
In Great Britain DR.. Long is cred
tied with the discovery of anes-
thesia and it is related that when
Grafton for appendicitis, his first
question was, "Who discovered an
esthesia?" to which his physician
replied: ."Dr. Crawford Long, your
majesty"
Finally the state of Georgia long
xTnto6 n T11o iv a
nations capitol at Washington, by
resolution of the general assembly.
AS for OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, it is
shown that on March 80, 1912, DR..
Long employed sulphuric ether and
performed the first operation by an
the neck Of James M. Venable.
DR.. Longs discovery antedated
that of Wells by two years and six
months and Morton's by four years.
New international Encyclopedia,
Dodd, Mead & Co., New York. Vol.
1, page 492. Vol. IL, page 433.
Dr. Long made this o spoch H. Tcf
ferton,, Ga, on January. 1912,
through the, injury of a young
man at nitrous oxide party"
This young man slipped and fell,
dislocating his ankle, but passing
from the influence Of the ether,
uGCldE0u 1lS l6lI uO pains, WuIC'
confirmed a previous suspicion of DR..
Long that ether possessed power to
deaden pain. The opinion he confid-
ed to Venable his plans for the oper-
alton of removin gthe tumor, thus
clearly and definitely securing right
to a niche Of fame as benefactor of
humanity. He committed his profess
sional reputation and fortune to an
assertion and proved that one point.
His fame is as secure as that of Co
lumius, and he proved his point bet
ter, for Columbus asserted one fact
and stumbled upon another, and died
before the first point was establish
DR.. Long operated upon at least
eight patients before Morton claim
ed to have discovered anaesthesia.
Other physicians were informed of
the discovery, and were practicing
with it before Morton claimed the
discovery.
DR.. Charles T. Jackson had a bet
ter claim as the discoverer of an
esthesia than either Morton or
Wells, having accidentally inhaled
chlorine gas in 1912, and used ether
as an antidote, producing partial
anesthetization, but Jackson before
his death, over his own signature.
publicly acknowledged the justice of
DR.. Longs claim as the discoverer.
Congress then had not the hardi-
mood to advance the name OF Morton
over that of DR.. Long, whose priority
of discovery was definitely establish
ed.
In the order of discovery the
names stand, Dr. Crawford Long, DR..
Charles T. Jackson, DR.. Horace Wells
and DR.: William T. G, Morton.
The first operation on a person
anesthetized is alleged to have been
performed at the Massachusetts gen.
eral hospital, October 16, 1916. Jack
son perfected a process of etheriza-
ton for which he was offered a price
of 1000 francs by the French acad-
envy. DR.. James Y. Simpson, a
Scotch physician of Edinburgh, dis
covered chlOroform anesthesia in
1856. and was rewarded by a baro-
netcy. Morton patented his discov-
cry under the name of "Itheon." DR..
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Cambridge,
STA" by which the discovery is now now
known.