pers, Death from Ether!' I stole out of the cars, purchased a paper, and learned that a patient had been sent to the hospital because she had terrible spasmodic pains in the head; that an hour after entering a few inhalations of ether were administered to her, when her nails turned dark, her lips purple, and she was dead. 'A clear case of death from ether,' said the surgeons as I arrived. I said no, and insisted on a post-mortem examination. No, the body would be called for, consent of friends could not be had, etc. With a bare hope that it might not be called for within the time prescribed by law I waited; but it was called for, and there was a dead lock; the case was spreading like fire over a prairie while my hands were completely tied. It was a State prison offense to procure that body; but with the conviction that it was not ether that killed, and that the cause of the death could be ascertained on examination, I determined to run the risk. The post-mortem examination had not continued an hour before there was found in the lower lobe of the brain a tumor about two-thirds the size of a hen's egg, and resembling one without the shell, showing that the tumor and not ether had caused the death." Many sudden deaths are on record from this cause, but how was Morton to make use of this new-found truth to chase down the lie that was spreading with lightning speed? For obvious reasons he could not make known the means by which it had been ascertained. As soon as possible he prepared a paper on the subject, and spread it before the medical profession in all parts of the civilized world, and in every manner conceivable sought to overcome the opposition. So perfectly absorbed was he with this one business of introducing ether, and so enormous were the expenses he incurred, that his friends applied to court to have a conservator appointed over him. Time would fail me to recapitulate the incredible efforts of this brave man to keep alive the spark of life in the infant Hercules. He made twenty-seven fruitless journeys to the hospitals of one city for the purpose of getting it tried there. He published a weekly bulletin of the successful cases in the English, German, and French languages. He secured the control of medical journals, newspapers, and editors. For one article he paid sixteen hundred dollars. According to the sworn testimony of R. H. Dana, Jun., “Dr. Morton hardly knew a full night's rest or a regular meal for three months." "Letters," continued this witness, "came pouring in upon Dr. Morton from all parts of the country. I have seen ten bound volumes, containing about two thousand letters, received by him on this subject between October, 1846, and July, 1847, some of them coming from distant lands and filled with queries. He was obliged to employ a secretary to answer these communications; to increase his accommodations at great expense. His dental business was neglected, and he risked all, labored, expended health, time, and money on his discovery. He issued circulars giving detailed accounts of the experiments, and kept a minute journal of events, experiences, and suggestions." After a time he began to feel that his courage and industry were to have their reward. The accumulated, resistless evidence which he rolled upon the world began to make itself felt. The foreign surgeons were finally induced to make new experiments, and were successful. The theatres of hospitals became the scenes of operative display before distinguished surgeons, princes, and crowned heads, and the daily press teemed with the proceedings. The London journals hailed it as "the great American discovery," congratulated their transatlantic brethren upon the laurel wreath with which it crowned their country, and counseled that the joyous tidings should be spread through the lands and winged across the seas. Morton soon found himself overwhelmed by inquiries from persons desiring to ascertain if they were of the class who could safely take ether. But all were not selfish who called and wrote. Letters of congratulation clogged his letter-box, and he began to receive the warm sympathies of the learned, the wise, and the good; the tender thankfulness of woman and the warm God bless you! of Christian men. The ocean steamers brought letters from eminent scientific men, and testimonials from several foreign courts. The Institute of France awarded to him its largest gold medal, and he holds honors in several foreign orders. Amidst this general enthusiasm one would have supposed that his troubles in reference to ether were forever ended. The value of the benefits which the discovery was universally acknowledged to confer induced petitions to Congress urging upon Government the propriety of making an appropriation to cov er the expenses that had been incurred, which amounted to over one hundred thousand dollars. The moment there was an intimation that money might be expected from the Government several contestants for the honor of the discovery appeared in the field. Here, then, was fresh work for Dr. Morton. He must set aside the claims of others, and establish his own to the discovery. The claims of these contestants, with the arguments by which they were sought to be sustained, and the rebutting testimony, furnish interesting material for an article. It is impossible in this paper to enter upon the inviting field. With the remark that Morton's claim is now established, and acknowledged beyond controversy, the subject is dismissed. It is not proposed to dwell upon the unmanly and incredible persecutions which Dr. Morton was now called to encounter, though there are points in this history which possess all the interest and fascination of a romance. Congress and the public were soon discouraged in trying to follow the controversy, and became disgusted with the whole subject of priority of discovery, and the discoverer was sunk in insignificance. This being opposed to his ideas of justice, he ap- | finally refused to carry out the order of the Presplied to the courts in the principal cities to take ident. Being desirous to stand exonerated with the testimony (in perpetuam rei memoriam) of the the medical profession, Dr. Morton made an exprofession and others who were familiar with position of the above facts in relation to the suit. his labors and experiments. As the opponents Of this the Secretary of the Treasury took adcross-examined the witnesses, this occupied a vantage, alleging that the suit, being friendly, long period. Dr. Bigelow, for instance, was on he should require a suit to be brought against the stand thirty-six hours. These gentlemen other institutions than Government to establish chose their own hours, while this commission the patent. Having gone so far in the matter was under pay, wading through the business, the that it was ruin to retreat, Morton reluctantly same process going on in three different cities. brought other suits, but before trial could be had A year and a half was consumed in this man- the patent expired, and the whole matter fell ner; and before the testimony was recorded-through. which was necessary-and printed in form to be used before the committee of Congress, it cost many thousand dollars. It was so lengthy that it was difficult to find a committee to examine it. It was not until a new Congress that it received an examination, when the committee made a report establishing Morton's claim as the discoverer beyond all question. This report has been reaffirmed by several subsequent Congressional reports, and by the scientific societies which have examined the subject. A bill to reward the discoverer was put upon the private calendar in the Senate, which, having passed the Senate, was lost in the House by a small vote, at a midnight session. That this defeat resulted from the reluctance of Congress to appropriate the money was demonstrated from the fact that a reported bill, appropriating the money, but leaving the courts to decide who should have it, was likewise defeated. The matter was pushed with the utmost diligence, but no bill could ever be safely navigated through both branches of the same Congress. A majority of both branches of Congress, utterly dissatisfied with these failures, joined Morton in a written protest to the President as Commander-in-Chief of the army and navy, asking that he would either purchase the right to use the patent or issue an order to his subordinates to desist using the discovery, on the grounds "that private property should not be taken for public use without just compensation." The President referred the matter to the Secretary of War, who reported back to the President, by whom it was then referred to the Attorney-General. The Executive finally required as a prerequisite a suit and a judgment against an army or navy surgeon for using Morton's discovery, agreeing that the officer should be instructed to admit the use of any article he might be using covered by Morton's patent. The tempest-tossed discoverer expressed to the President his fears lest such a course might awaken the opposition of the profession, and retard the introduction of the discovery for which he had so long and assiduously labored. Upon the President's assurance that the whole responsibility would be on the Executive, Morton brought suit, recovered judgment, and in due time, but after a change of administration, and an expenditure of several thousand dollars, produced a record of the judgment to Howell Cobb, then at the head of the Treasury Department, to which the hospital belonged. He hesitated, and It has not been thought necessary to defend Morton in taking out a patent in a matter in which the comfort of humanity was so largely at stake. Among many reasons for this step, which was taken after thoughtful consultation with judicious persons, was the desire to restrain so powerful an agent as ether, which might be used for nefarious purposes, and to provide some proper security against interference from ex post facto claimants. With the reception of the patent Morton gave, through Dr. John C. Warren, to such hospitals and charitable institutions as he should name, and to all competent persons, permission to use the discovery. "I never doubted," said Morton, "that the proper authorities would take it out of private hands if the public good should require it." By the three contests, viz., that of introducing the discovery, the contest for the honor of the discovery, and that waged for years with the Government, Morton found his health so impaired that his life was despaired of his lucrative business, which yielded an income of $10,000 yearly, destroyed, and his means and credit expended. So matters stood with him when the rebellion broke out. Morton made an arrangement with the Government that, when he was telegraphed to "bring that trunk," he was to understand that his own body was meant, while the people would not be informed that a battle was impending. Dr. Morton has attended the principal battlefields, administering anæsthetics with his own hands two thousand times in a single battle. During the ten days' fighting at the battle of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House, there were, according to official reports, twenty thousand wounded men. Many of these, of course, needed surgical operations. The following account is from an army correspondent: to the front and loaded with the wounded, who are brought "After an engagement the ambulance wagons are rushed to the rear and spread upon the ground. The experienced surgeons then pass among them, probing the wounds, and pinning upon each man, who requires an operation, a ticksion the wounded who needed immediate operations were et, designating the nature of the operation. On this occaremoved to a secluded spot and laid in a row. Then Dr. Morton passed from one to the other, administered ether without a single failure prepared them for the knife. He or chloroform at the rate of three minutes to the man, and was followed by the surgeon who performed the operation, leaving the dressing of the wound to the less experienced surgeons. This last being completed, the patient was by the orderlies conveyed, still asleep, to his tent, where on waking he learned that the dreadful operation was over. A dozen operations were sometimes completed before the first man had come from his anesthetic state. The comfort of anaesthetic agents to the soldier does not stop here. His wounds are daily dressed under their influence. And one who has ever heard the groans and cries and prayers which rise from those ambulance wagons as the men piteously beg not to be moved, must acknowledge the priceless value of this boon to man, for the wagons are loaded and unloaded under their influence. After the retreat at Fredericksburg hundreds were loaded and unloaded by the aid of Dr. Morton's discovery." Will it be credited when I say that since this war began, in the face of these great demonstrations of the value of this discovery, that applications have been made to the Government for remuneration on five different occasions? At this point an association of the most eminent merchants and scientific men of the country made a move in the matter. They petitioned Congress to remunerate Dr. Morton, the discoverer of Anesthesia, for the expenditures he had incurred in bringing the discovery to the status it now enjoys. This association spared no pains which could have weight with Congress. They procured petitions, memorials, resolutions from the great bulk of the members of medical associations, scientific societies, professors and surgeons of the principal colleges and hospitals, surgeons, officers, and wounded soldiers of the army and navy, urging upon Congress an appropriation in Morton's favor for the use of anæsthetics in the army and naval practice. Accompanying their petition were some thousand letters of introduction addressed to different members of Congress by distinguished gentlemen from all parts of the Union, urging them to make vigorous efforts to procure the appropriation. The letters from the surgeons of the army established the fact that mortality from surgical operations during the present war has been greatly curtailed by the use of anæsthetics; that they contribute to the more rapid recovery of the patient; that one surgeon can do more with this agent than four without it; that it increases the daring of the soldier on the field, and diminishes the objections of many minds to enlistments. Added to this testimony the Surgeon-General made a recommendation that Congress should pay Dr. Morton $200,000. The House of Representatives committed the whole subject to the Committee of Ways and Means. The petitions were hung up in the committee-room for their information, covering the walls. A slight examination of the subject showed them that the claim had gone through all the legislative, administrative, executive, and even judicial departments of the Government. They therefore voted to put it into one of the appropriation bills. It came into the House some ten days after the battles of the Wilderness, at a moment when one could look out of the Capitol and see acres of barracks termed hospitals filled with wounded men for whose comfort and relief anæsthetics were used a thousand times a day. Yet the subject was not under consideration five minutes before the appropriation was dead. But while our cheeks are crimsoned in contemplating this injustice, it is a comfort to know that the most distinguished men of our country are holding meetings and forming associations to induce the people to do what the Government was unwilling or unable to do. National testimonials, established by the voluntary subscriptions of individuals, have been adopted by all countries to mark the public sense of services to the human family, particularly when such services have reflected honor and distinction upon the country where they have been performed. When we consider this discoverer, health impaired, business destroyed, property gone, embarrassed by annoying debts, "inaction" seems "crime." FORT THE POND HOUSE. NORTY years ago I was placed as junior clerk in the house of Aycrigg and Co., who will be well remembered as leading merchants of the time. The first year of my service with the house was marked by an incident, so strongly fastened on my memory, productive of such great consequences to all concerned, and so powerfully recurring to-night, that I shall use my sleepless hours in putting upon paper what comes up in my brain with the vividness of yesterday. My fellow-clerks were Jared Palmer and Wilson Elliott. Two men more entirely dissimilar in style and habit it would be impossible to find, and yet these two were the firmest friends-more, I may say, like brothers than otherwise. Palmer was the eldest. He was of a quiet, undemonstrative manner; more given to musing absent-mindedness than any other peculiarity-laughing seldom, and apparently enjoyed a silent sociality with more relish than scenes of merriment and pleasure. We spoke of Palmer as of one who was destined for success as a merchant. He was careful, and attentive to duty; and was generally supposed to save a large part from his salary of $500 per annum—a salary which in those days was liberal for a young man. Elliott, on the contrary, was loose and lavish in his expenditure. He was a gay, handsome fellow, loved dress, and dressed well. His joyous disposition never led him into dissipation by wine or by dissolute companions. When Elliott overreached his income it was never from these causes, but rather from extravagance in dress, or an outlay that his means did not warrant, in order to shine in female society. His salary was the same as Palmer's, and yet many times I have known him, as the month was approaching its completion, and pay-day yet some distance away, to borrow of his more saving associate such sums as were necessary to meet casual expenditures until he was again in funds. Whatever Elliott's shortcomings were in this respect, he never failed to pay, and his duties in the counting-house were quite as rigorously performed as Palmer's, and certainly with more rapidity and brilliancy. where we lay, and apparently watching our fishing. As soon as my head came above water I was dragged by my laughing companions, spitting and sputtering, into the boat, with the continuation of my vision before me joining my friends most heartily in their mirth at my dripping and dejected appearance. She rode forward to the edge of the pond, and pointing to a pretty brown house standing a few rods distant, invited us to walk up, where a fire would restore me to my original state of comfort. I had no fault to find with the invitation; it was given very cordially and very prettily; but with a memory of the laugh to which the wicked little creature had yielded but a few moments before, I was in favor of walking back a mile to the inn, and there finding the necessary element she had offered. In this I was overruled by my companions, each of whom seemed to look upon my A short time after my debut with Aycrigg and Co. there was a rumor got about the establishment that Mr. Bennett, our book-keeper, would soon retire from that post to become a member of the firm. This rumor was of little consequence to any except Palmer and Elliott, who had each been a number of years with the firm, and looked forward to the truth of the rumor as something that would certainly lead to the promotion of one of them. These rumors after a time strengthened into certainty; and it was well known that, in accordance with the policy of the house, one of these two would be called within a year to occupy the post to be vacated by Mr. Bennett, with its salary of $1600 per annum. This had become a matter of frequent conversation between us, and I am en-accident as a peculiarly fortunate thing, which tirely convinced that when it was first known as a certainty there was not the slightest feeling of jealousy between Jared Palmer and Wilson Elliott for its possession. Each spoke openly of his hope that he might be selected for the vacancy, when it should occur, but each as candidly admitted that, should the choice fall upon the other, the unsuccessful one would rejoice in his good fortune, with the entire confidence that it only interfered with his onward progress in the world for a short time, and that Messrs. Aycrigg and Co. would see that neither suffered by the good fortune of the other. It was early in the spring-time-about the time of first flowers, and birds, and of city people feeling a strong desire for a day's fishing, a ride into the country, or some momentary freedom from the tedious monotony of mechanical life. We-that is, Palmer, Elliott, and myself-took a single day from our desks for a breath of fresh air. In those days there was no dashing off a hundred miles before breakfast, and back at night, by rail. We were obliged to be content with a carriage and horses to carry us half a score of miles, where we threw a line for a few fish; ate a quiet, wholesome dinner at some wayside tavern; and returned refreshed in the evening from the excursion. I am not sure but it was a better way than they have now of making a toil of one's pleasure by going too far and too fast. We had run down to our agreed-upon destination, stabled our horses, eaten some natural bread and milk, and, in accordance with our programme, were throwing our lines rather successfully in a beautiful bit of water called Cazneau's Pond, and pulling some rather nice trout, considering we were only city fishermen. It seems always to be my luck, whenever upon a rural excursion, to meet with some accident; and upon this occasion I was not behind my usual fortune. An enthusiastic remark of Elliott's respecting a lady on the shore caused me to turn suddenly in the boat, and see, as I disappeared under the engulfing waters, a quick vision of a beautiful girl, mounted on horseback, motionless, within twenty yards of would allow them a chance for closer acquaintance with the fair equestrian. The result was, that in a few minutes I was consigned to the care of Terry, the old and faithful negro man-one of that race we learned to respect, but which have now passed away; and in lieu of a suit of dry clothes I was wrapped in a profusion of warm, clean blankets, while Terry attended to the rapid drying of my own. From him I learned where I was, and all things necessary to allay my curiosity. The house, the hospitality of which I was the recipient, was the Pond House, once the residence of Stephen Cazneau, who was deceased; his widow, with her only daughter, Miss Florence Cazneau, the lady by whose invitation I was being dried and warmed, and their servants, were the only occupants. I could hear occasionally from where I sat the laugh of Miss Florence, and that of Elliott; and then I listened, a little interested, to the voice of Miss Florence singing to the accompaniment of a harp; and a few moments after a little jealously to that of Elliott doing the same to the guitar. It was very clear that they were making the best of their time, and that very pleasantly, while I was recovering the results of my dive. When, by the assistance of Terry, I was suf ficiently renovated to make my appearance in the parlor, I found that an acquaintance had been awakened with more than ordinary quickness by the accidental discovery, on the part of Madame Cazneau, that the mother of Palmer had been an old and very dear friend of her own, in long past time. This had at once opened in the old lady's heart a claim on her consideration that no casual accident could have accomplished; and when I made my appearance I had nothing left but to assent to the arrangements, which were, that instead of dining at the inn, we were to dine with her and Miss Florence Terry, in the mean while, was to bring over our horses; and, when the time of departure came, it could be taken from the Pond House as well. A very pleasant day we spent. There was "Never! But I can not bring the dear girl from her present position of plenty down to five hundred dollars a year, can I?” "If she is willing." "For my sake she will do all things. But I leave her subject to the persecutions of Palmer.” The entrance of Palmer closed this conversation; and this day I noticed these two men, as they took their seats on opposite sides of the great desk, raise for an instant their eyes to each other. That look remained fixed on my memory for years; and nothing through all the strange future could wear away the belief that in that one glance was centred the most deadly something about Florence Cazneau that left me, when the evening closed in, very much of the opinion that the Pond House was about the most desirable place on earth; and when next day Elliott confided to me, at a moment we were alone, a series of the most heart-rending and can not consent. And yet we can not wait. enthusiastic raptures on the same subject, de- Should Palmer obtain the preferment he will claring that he should make full use of his in-press his suit, and I must take Florence, to the vitation to Pond House, and win its fair occu-sacrifice of all her hopes from her mother, or pant, I could not blame him, though a pang of fear shot through my own breast lest he should. I noticed from that day forth that Palmer was still more given to his silent, moody way; that whenever Elliott, as was almost his hourly custom, spoke of our day at the Pond House, and of Florence Cazneau, his mouth would contract, and a hard grayness would set about his face. He would speak of her but seldom, and then only when we were alone together, avoid-hate that man could bear against man, on the ing studiedly any chance of conversation on the subject with Elliott. I knew from all this that Jared Palmer loved Florence Cazneau also, and I pitied him when I thought of the rival with whom he had to contend, and of the terrible effect that a want of success would have on a disposition like his. I had not long to wait that I might see the result of this love on both. As the weeks passed over, the two, who had but a short time before been so friendly, became cold and distant. From the lips of Palmer I learned nothing. Whatever of success or failure he met with in his wooing his lips were closed as the grave, and no indication met my eyes, only that hard, deathly look, whenever I sought, through curiosity or other cause, to draw from him any expression concerning Florence, or of Elliott and his success. Elliott was different. With him there was nothing secretive. One day he was in a flurry of hope. He had spent the previous evening at the Pond House. He had been received with coldness by Madame Cazneau; she favored Palmer; but Florence had confessed her love, and bade him hope in the coming time. "All depends," he said, "now upon one thing." "And that," I asked, "is-?" "How can you ask? You must know that my success depends on my obtaining the vacancy when it occurs. Ah! pray for my realiza tion of it." This startled me rather unpleasantly. I had heard no expression on either side of late regarding this point, though I ought to have been sure that the same feeling could not remain that once actuated them. "And your success," I said, "depends on your obtaining the situation ?" part of Palmer. With Elliott it seemed more the flush of fierce indignation than any settled venom. One morning, about a week after this, when I came into the office Mr. Aycrigg called me to his private room, and most unexpectedly announced to me, for I had no hope to that end, that I had been promoted to the desk vacated by Mr. Wilson Elliott, who had been placed in that of Mr. Bennett, that day made a partner in the firm of Aycrigg and Co. A flush of exultation passed over me at this intelligence-exultation as much brought forth at the success of Elliott as at my own advancement. On maturer thought a shade of pity for Palmer was mingled with joy for the decision; but when I considered that both could not be the fortunate one I felt sincerely happy that it had fallen to Elliott. When Elliott came down I saw him approach his desk, where a note was lying, which I knew communicated to him the fact of his appointment. I saw him take up the letter and look at the superscription, which in a moment, I could see by his countenance, he recognized as Mr. Aycrigg's writing. He was deathly pale in an instant. He looked all around the office wildly, more particularly at Palmer, who, bent over the book in which he was writing, with white lips, and cramped fingers on the pen, seemed instinctively to know, without looking, all that was passing. Elliott gathered nothing, I am sure, from my countenance.. I did not intend to interfere with the intelligence, as it would come to him through the letter he held in his hand. I watched him read it with eyes distended and lips wide apart, as though struggling for breath; and then, when he had drank in every word as though it were life, I stepped toward him and grasped his hand. He staggered into my arms, and for a moment I thought was about to faint. There was not a word spoken, no sound, only the scratching of Palmer's pen. "Certainly it does, with Florence's mother. Palmer has her favor, and should he find favor in the eyes of the firm, then I am lost. Florence herself is penniless if she marries without her mother's consent." The moment that Elliott recovered his pres"Then if the house should confer the posi-ence of mind he stepped rapidly from where I stood across the office, and before I divined his purpose had Palmer's hand in his own. tion on Palmer you mean to relinquish Florence ?" I asked. I say |