It was at this time that I wrote the passage in my work 'Psychography,' "published in Philadelphia, May, 1843: 'The power to produce the congestive or unconscious state of brain "is not confined to the nervo-vital fluid of a second person. The same state of "things may be brought about by mental excitement, accompanied by "muscular action - the inhalation of narcotic and stimulating vapours.' "Not, however, content with proving the entire insensibility by the aid of "electricity, I publicly extracted teeth during this anaesthetic state induced by "inhalation.

I at that time considered the state thus brought about to be identical with "that of mesmeric coma, and in proof of which fact I state at page 27 of "'Psychography' (1843) that the condition of the pythoness or priestess who "inhaled the fumes in the Delphic Temple to be identical with that of the "mesmerized person. The same words are repeated by me in explaining the "condition of the persons who were rendered insensible by the inhalation of "narcotic fumes in the feats performed by the Egyptian magicians. The "circumstance of the surgical profession not having taken advantage of my "published statements and public experiments, that the inhalation of narcotic "and stimulating vapours produces an anaesthetic state, does not mitigate as "to the priority, or render my discovery of less value.

It is most certain that had they done so in 1842 and 1843, no one would "have disputed my claim. Individually I took every means to promulgate "these facts to the world. I lectured and performed experiments on inhalation "in all the principal cities of the United States, Canada, Liverpool, and London. "Did any of those who followed me in 1844 and 1846 explain the physiology ' of the nervous system, especially the condition of the brain, which I had pre"viously done?

I cannot imagine how Horace Wells, or those who vindicate his claim, can "attribute any merit in his having inhaled nitrous oxide, and had a tooth ex"tracted, which he had seen administered by Mr. Coulton the previous "evening.

It is admitted that Mr. Wells was not a man of education, nor had he any "scientific information as to the properties of protoxide of nitrogen. Had he "been acquainted with the physiology of the brain and nervous system, he "would have rendered the persons unconscious. We have the most positive "evidence that he did not administer the gas beyond the stage of excitement, as "Dr. P. W. Ellsworth, in writing to the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, "distinctly states (June 18th, 1845) : 'The patients appear very merry "during the operation, and no unpleasant effects follow the use of the "nitrous oxide gas.' Nothing can be more plain than that unconsciousness "was never induced; there was only a partial anaesthetic state. How is it that "Dr. Ellsworth makes no mention of the use of sulphuric ether by Mr. Wells? "This is most important, as showing how extravagantly Mr. W ells wrote in "Galignani's Messenger when in Paris in February, 1847, after he had heard "of Morton's extraction of teeth during an anaesthetic state, induced by the "inhalation of ether.

It was only then that for the first time he says: - 'I "have administered the nitrous oxide and the vapour of ether to about fifty persons.' Not a single document can be produced in confirmation of this "statement.

It is a curious anomaly that Morton, who was a partner of Wells, should "not have ever heard of this administration of ether. For it is beyond all ques"tion that Morton had got his idea from a Mr. Speires, who had seen ether "given at the Lexington University, in lieu of nitrous oxide gas, to the students; "the same as I had seen and experienced several years previously administered "by Dr. Turner, Professor of Chemistry at the London University.

When Morton called on Dr. Jackson, he in all probability merely required a "suitable apparatus, in order to administer the sulphuric ether. This must be "the conclusion of all impartial critics. As to the story he invented about having "made experiments on a Newfoundland dog prior to this period, there does not "appear the least probability as to its being true.

Had he made these prior experiments, he never would have been so anxious "and shown such ignorance relative to where he could obtain the sulphuric "ether, and 'what kind of stuff it was!' Dr. Jackson indicated to him that it "could be purchased at Burnett's, where he, Morton, accordingly went and pur"chased the ether. This fact has been proved beyond all question. Now it "follows that Morton was entirely ignorant of its properties at this time -"that is, when he went to Dr. Jackson, or as to where the proper ether could be "obtained. This part of the history is equally prejudicial to the vaunting asser"tion of Wells in 1847, that he had 'administered the ether to fifty persons.'

The constant disposition to romance and indulge in exaggerations is too "manifest both on the part of Horace Wells and W. T. G. Morton. They "were both entirely ignorant of the physiology of the action of the anaesthetic "agents, even at the time of taking out the letters patent, for these words are "used, - 'There is very nearly, if not entire absence of all pain.'

Dr. Mclntyre says, 'That when Morton was leaving, Dr. Jackson said, "I "will tell you what will answer as well as nitrous oxide gas. Morton asked ' what it was. Dr. Jackson told him to go to Burnett's and get some pure "sulphuric ether, pour it on a handkerchief and cause the patient to inhale it. "Morton ashed what sulphuric ether was, what sort of looking stuff it was! I "stayed in the front room while Morton and Jackson went to look at the ether. "I am satisfied he knew nothing about its properties or nature. I heard "Morton ask Dr. Jackson very particularly whether it would be safe to "use. Dr. Jackson assured him that it was perfectly safe, and alluded to the "students at Cambridge having used it. Morton appeared to be afraid to use "the ether, and asked him several times if it was safe. Dr. Jackson advised "Morton to try it on himself. Morton asked me if I would be willing to try "it. I told him I would.'