Other monuments to inhalation anesthesia

Abstract

Numerous monuments in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Georgia commemorate the original demonstrators of inhalation anesthesia for surgery using sulfuric ether, as well as the controversy surrounding these individuals. The Ether Controversy is a historical event brought about by individual desire and fueled through collective support. It is interesting to ponder what might have occurred if the Ether Controversy had only been an argument between two people: Morton and Jackson. If Jacob Bigelow had not written his famous article describing the events of 1846, would Wells have argued for his position? If Long's friends had not coaxed him to finally publish his account, would he even have joined in the Ether Controversy? Would Morton have been able to attain his position without the support of such elite backers? Questions like these highlight the crucial role proponents of the claimants to the discovery of inhalation anesthesia played in the outcome of the Ether Controversy. It is also interesting to consider what might have occurred if Boston had had only one petitioner to the right of the discovery of inhalation anesthesia. For example, because of their unshared claims, Long and Wells stand as personifications of their respective communities, and therefore these populations support and honor their memory through stone edifices. This personal connection perhaps provides the impetus for these impelled peoples to maintain these structures. In contrast, Morton's tomb at Mount Auburn Cemetery is in need of proper maintenance, and its marble inscriptions have eroded enough that they are hardly legible.28 Jackson's only monument is his grave, which is overshadowed by both Long's and Wells' statues. However, if Boston had had a single claimant, the entire city would have likely advocated for that person; Boston was divided in its support and, as such, backing for the individual's monuments was fragmentary. By not mentioning any of the claimants, the Ether Monument in the Boston Public Garden remains neutral in regard to the Ether Controversy. This is perhaps the paramount reason why it is generally considered the most important, visible, and recognizable memorial to the introduction of surgical inhalation anesthesia. The tributes and monuments to the claimants of the discovery of inhalation anesthesia are embodiments of the patronage received by, Morton, Jackson, Wells, and Long. They should be viewed as part of history, as well as a testimony to the various interpretations of the Ether Controversy. Copyright © 2008 The American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.