Copy of letters patent granted to W.T.G. Morton, M.D : for the discovery of etherization, together with the specification on which the patent issued.

Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Copy of letters patent granted to W.T.G. Morton, M.D : for the discovery of etherization, together with the specification on which the patent issued. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    8 of letters patent. Your invention is the connection of the two processes or modes of operation. Before the date of Walls's invention of the steam engine, the expan- sive force of Bteam had been applied to a piston in a cylinder, and it was well known, that by the application of cold water steam conld be condensed in a vessel to effect a vacuum; and all thai immortalized that great man was llie union of these two ideas or modes of procedure, ap- plying the force of steam in one vessel and condensing ii in another* In a legal point of view your invention does not differ from this, which has been admitted to he patentable by all the legal knowledge of the world, and the universal consent of civilized man. I am, sir, yours, Very respectfully, (Signed) CHS. M. KELLER, For KELLER <fc GREENOUGH. 1 concur in the foregoing opinion entirely, entertaining no douht that T)r. .Motion's discovery is a new and useful art, and as such the proper subject of a patent. DANIEL WEBSTER. Feb. Yith, 1S47. I have examined the question of the patentability of Dr. Morton's discovery of (he anaesthetic properties of ether, and its applicability to surgical operations, and entertain no doubt as to the validity of the patent, or of his exclusive title thereto. January, 1862. J. M. CARLISLE, Washington. Boston, May 17, 1854. Having long since carefully considered this question, I do not hesi- tate to concur in the opinion expressed by Mr. Webster. GEO. T. CURTIS. Boston, May I2lh, 1854. The discovery of the anaesthetic properties of the vapor of ether, and the practical application thereof for the production of insensibility to pain during the performance of surgical operations upon the human body, as described in the letters patent of the United Stales to Dr. Win. rl\ G. Morton, are, in my opinion, the proper subject matter of a patent' WILLIAM WHITING. Boston, May 17, 1854. I concur entire in the opinion expressed by Mr. Webster Mr. Curtis and Mr. Whiting, and in the conclusions of the argument in Messrs! Keller & Greenough. R. CHOATE.