It is conclusive that if Morton had known anything of the chemical pro"perties of sulphuric ether, he never would have gone to Dr. Jackson at all. "The very fact of his going proves two things, that he had never made any "previous trials, as he has since stated, and secondly, that sulphuric ether was "not known to Horace Wells, who was Morton's partner. Vide Galignani's "Messenger, February 15th, 1847.

As I have said before, these experiments both of Horace Wells with "nitrous oxide, and Morton with sulphuric ether, were mere casual, hap"hazard trials; there was no inductive reasoning, no scientific knowledge "exhibited, neither in the one case nor the other.

My public experiments in 1842 and 1843 with alcohol, sulphuric ether, "stramonium, poppy head and seeds, coriander seeds, etc, the fumes of which "were inhaled, and a complete state of unconsciousness produced, had at least "the merit of having been arrived at from my knowledge of the physiology of "the brain and nervous system. The sudden, I may add magical adoption "by the medical profession in 1846 and 1847 of the necessity of producing a "state of anaesthesia, so that surgical operations could be performed painlessly, "cannot disturb the remarkable announcement by Sir Humphry Davy in 1800: 'As nitrous oxide in its extensive operation seems capable of destroying physi"cal pain, it may probably be used with advantage during surgical operations in "which no great effusion of blood takes place.'

Certainly these words admit of no ambiguity; they were published by one of "the most illustrious of England's most distinguished men of sciencef and yet "not a member of the profession takes the trouble to make experiments in con"firmation. I cannot therefore be surprised after this inexplicable apathy "that my public experiments from 1841 to 1844 should have remained unheeded. "How is it that the experiments made by Horace Wells before Dr. Warren's "medical class, in the month of January, 1845, also had no effect in arousing "the medical profession?

Had not Morton associated himself with Dr. Charles T. Jackson in "1846, and taken out letters patent, I doubt much if the profession to this "day would have recognised the necessity of inducing the anaesthetic state. "It was the mysterious charlatanry of the patent business of Morton and "Jackson which induced its adoption.

It is positively certain that I induced an anaesthetic state for surgical operations in 1841, 1842, 1843. Had I not done so then there might be raised the question as to the right or justice of my name being associated

' with the anaesthetic discovery. But as I took every available opportunity to publish these facts for the benefit of my fellow-men without dreaming of a patent, there is no reason why my name should not be connected with a discovery which is an aid of incalculable importance to the science of surgery, in rendering the patient perfectly passive during operation. It is a discovery which has from the earliest ages been mythically and poetically dreamt of. Its realization and adoption render it the greatest blessing which man has in his power of applying to his suffering fellow-being, to obviate the physical agony and mental dread incidental to surgical operations.

In 1839 Velpeau, one of the most distinguished French surgeons, said, 'To avoid pain in surgical operations is a chimera, which cannot be permitted to be entertained or sought for.'

Yours truly,

Robert H. Collyer, M.D. "To Sir J. T. Simpson, Bt., Edinburgh."

The following advertisement appeared in the Medical Times and Lancet, of January, 1847, and other periodicals of the same date. For audacity and charlatanry, it eclipses any advertisement I ever read :Patent Lethonic Apparatus. "Notice is hereby given, that making, using, or vending, in England, with"out licence from me, the Apparatus for the Inhalation of Ether, of which a "description and a drawing were given in the Medical Times of January 9th "instant, page 290, and in which a valve or valves prevent the return of "vapour, once inhaled, into the vessel containing the ether, and sponge is used "to increase the evaporating surface, is A direct infringement of the " Patent secured on the invention named the Letheon; and all persons are "hereby cautioned against making, using, or vending, without such licence, "that or any similar apparatus."

THE LETHEON. To the Editor of the "Lancet." "London, 18, Duke Street, St. James's, Jan. 6th, 1847.

Sir, - I am informed that the name 'The Letheon' has been given by the "Inventors in the United States, to the means of procuring insensibility to "pain for surgical purposes. The apparatus is called 'The Letheonic Apparatus;' the surgeon is said 'to Lethonize;' the patient to be 'Lethonized.' "The derivation, from the river Lethe, the waters of which, according to "Greek mythology, caused oblivion in the memory of the person who drank, "seems to be appropriate.

In the Lancet of January 2nd, I gave notice of having accepted the agency "of affairs concerning the Patent for England and the Colonies, and stated "that I should adhere to such a course, that no charge of illiberality could rest "upon the proprietors of the Patent or upon myself.

Seeing the great importance, as well as feeling the delicacy of questions ' likely to arise, relating to the amount and form of compensation to be given "by the public for the use of the invention, and their bearings upon common "humanity, as well as upon private rights, I have undertaken the agency of "the Patent in the belief and confidence that I could reconcile the just claims "of the inventors and their representatives, with the expectations and wishes "of an intelligent and liberal profession.

In furtherance of these views, I now give public notice to the Governors "or Trustees of all free or charitable Hospitals, Infirmaries, and Dispensaries "in England and Wales, that I will grant licences to use the invention for any "and all purposes within the walls of the respective Institutions, during the. "full term of the Patent, to each Hospital, Infirmary, or Dispensary, for Five "Guineas.