Ether was discovered in 1275 by Spanish chemist Raymundus Lullius.  This new discovery was given the name "sweet vitriol."  In 1540, the synthesis of ether was described by German scientist Valerius Cordus.   At about the same time, Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus discovered the hypnotic effects of ether.  Later, in 1730, German scientist W.G. Frobenius changed the name of sweet vitriol to ether.

Early Chemists and Scientists
Lullius	Cordus	Paracelsus

Scientists and physicians used ether for many different things, but not yet as an anesthetic agent.   In 1794, English physicians Richard Pearson and Thomas Beddoes used ether in the treatment of phthisis, catarrhal fever, bladder calculus, and scurvy.   These treatments were performed at the Beddoes' Pneumatic Institute.   A little later in 1805, American physicians used ether to treat pulmonary inflammation.

English Physicians
Pearson	Beddoes

Dr. Crawford Long The first use of ether

The first surgical anesthetic use of ether is credited to Dr. Crawford Williamson Long, MD, age 27, of Jefferson, Georgia.   On March 30, 1842, he removed one of the two tumors from the neck of Mr. James Venable under ether anesthesia.   Apparently, he had used ether for minor surgery as early as 1841, and had originally learned about ether during "ether frolics" while in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania.   Unfortunately for Dr. Long, he did not publish the results until 1848, appearing in The Southern Medical and Surgical Journal.   As we will see later, this was well after W.T.G. Morton's demonstration.   Therefore, the credit of the discovery was initally given to Morton.

In c1844, Hartford, Connecticut dentist Dr. Horace Wells, age 29, focused his career on the promotion of nitrous oxide anesthesia.   Dr. Wells tried to promote his nitrous anesthesia technique in the Boston medical community without much success.   He even used the influence of former dental partner Dr. William T.G. Morton, whom had good standing in the local community.  They had a shared dental practice back in 1843, and earlier, Morton had actually been tutored in dentistry by Wells.   Finally, Dr. Wells was allowed a public demonstration in January 1845 at the Massachusetts General Hospital.  The demonstration failed, perhaps due to an insufficient dose of nitrous.  Humiliated, Wells left Boston and returned to Hartford.   He continued his futile promotion of nitrous oxide, but this was later surpassed by Morton's success in Boston.

Despite Dr. Wells failure, chemist and physician Dr. Charles T. Jackson saw interest in his work, and consulted with Wells on the properties of both ether and nitrous oxide.   Dr. Jackson was a professor at the Medical College of Massachusetts (Harvard).   Dr. Morton, a dentist, was also a pre-medical student.   And guess what?   Dr. Jackson had tutored Dr. Morton in 1844, preparing him for medical school.   Well, Dr. Morton began to receive information about the use of ether from his friend and colleague Dr. Jackson.   In 1846, after learning more about "ether frolics," Morton began secret experiments with ether.   He experimented on himself and on small animals at his home in West Needham, Massachusetts.   On September 30, 1846 at 9 p.m. in his Boston office, he painlessly removed a tooth from city merchant Eben H. Frost.

FYI - Morton claimed to be a graduate of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.   However, research has found that he never attended dental or medical school, and no records exist of him taking any university courses.   However, in 1852 Washington University in Baltimore granted him an honorary M.D. degree.

Feuding Physicians
Long	Wells	Jackson	Morton

The use of ether was successful in Morton's dental practice, and the local newspaper began to publicize Morton's technique.   Junior surgeon Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow noticed these paper articles, and arranged for a demonstration with his colleague, Dr. John Collins Warren, age 68, Senior Surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).   Morton, at age 27, was eager to gain notoriety.  Now move on to part II of this story...