Report of the Board of trustees of the Massachusetts general hospital, presented to the corporation, at their annual meeting, January 26, 1848.

  • Massachusetts General Hospital.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Board of trustees of the Massachusetts general hospital, presented to the corporation, at their annual meeting, January 26, 1848. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    sulphuric ether, and, as he thmks, many and great advan- tages over it. The universal law of intellect is progress. But, though others may erect the superstructure, the comer-stone of the building will preserve an imperishable record of its founder. The name of Fulton will never be forgotten. Yet how vast is the difference between the first humble steamboat that slowly toiled up the Hudson, and those majestic structures which now defy the storms of the Atlantic! As philanthropists, we may well rejoice that we have had any agency, however slight, in conferring on poor, suffering humanity, so precious a gift. Unrestrained and free as God's own sunshine, it has gone forth to cheer and gladden the earth. It will awaken the grati- tude of the present and of all coming generations. The student who, from distant lands, or in distant ages, may visit this spot, avUI view it with increased interest, as he remembers that here was first demonstrated one of the most glorious truths of science. Pursuant to an informal suggestion of the Board, who regard this discovery as the most important event which has occurred in the history of this mstitution, the Com- mittee proceed to make a more extended mvestigation, in respect to its origm, than would otherwise have been thought necessary. A recent publication, by Dr. George Hayward, entitled Some account of the first use of Sulphuric Ether by Inhalation in Siu'gical Practice, gives a clear and simple history of this discovery, and of all its attending circum- the present metliod, or substitxited another for it, it 'htU not detract in the slightest degree fi'om the merit of the original discoverers of a great and novel prin- ciple.