of Georgia's two greatest citizens. Nor is Georgia alone in asserting the justice of his ciaim, for across the seas the French have erected a statue to his memory in the capital city of that republic. * Crawford W. Long, son of James and Elizabeth Ware Long and grandson of Samuel and Ellen Williamson Long, was born in Danielsville, Georgia, November 1, 1815. After a few years of preparation in the local academy he entered Franklin College, now the University of Georgia, and received his Master of Arts degree in 1835, at the age of nineteen, ranking second in his class. During his college days he was a roommate of Alexander H. Stephens, whose statue Georgia is to place alongside that of the discoverer of anesthesia in the capitol at Washington. In 1839 he was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. The succeeding twelve months he spent in a hospital in New York, and on account of his success as a surgeon he was urged by his friends to apply for the position of a surgeon in the United States navy. This was, however, contrary to the wishes of his father, and he returned to his native state, locating in Jefferson, Jackson County, Georgia, in 1841. At that time Jefferson was a mere village, far removed from the large cities and the railroads. * * * The young country doctor quickly became a general favorite on account of his quiet, dignified bearing, his uniform courtesy, his tender heart, and his desire at all times to be of service to his people in their hours of trouble or suffering. In those days nitrous oxide parties were all the rage. The inhalation of this gas resulted in great exhilaration. Doctor Long did not boast a very extensive laboratory. In fact, it was practically impossible, with his meagre equipment, to prepare nitrous oxide. He, therefore, used sulphuric ether, and the same hilarious effect followed. Ether parties speedily became the fad among the young people of Jefferson. During January, 1842, quite a number of ether frolics were held at Doctor Long's office, and some of the young men became thoroughly intoxicated through use of the gas. In the rough playing which followed severe bruises were received upon their bodies, but they seemed to take no notice of them. The thought dawned upon the mind of Doctor Long that ether must possess the power to deaden pain. One night, during an ether frolic, one of the young men slipped and fell, dislocating his ankle. Although the injury was quite severe, Doctor Long observed that the young man was practically unconscious of suffering. His belief in the power of ether to render one insensible to pain now deepened into a settled conviction, and he resolved to prove his discovery by using ether in the first surgical case he might chance to get. Two miles from Jefferson lived James M. Venable, a young man who had frequently been in Doctor Long's office and who had several times spoken to the physician about cutting two tumors from the back of his neck. Convinced of the anesthetic powers of sulphuric ether, Doctor Long disclosed to Venable his plans for the operation. On March 30, 1842, sulphuric ether was administered to Venable until he became completely anesthetized. The small cystic tumor was then excised from the back of his neck and the patient was amazed when he regained conscious ness to find that the operation was over and the tumor removed, without causing him the slightest pain. In fact, he had not even known that the operation was being performed. It is beyond question that this date marks the discovery of anesthesia. Dr. Horace Wells, ignorant of Doctor Long's discovery, tried laughing gas on himself in 1844. Dr. William T. G. Morton announced his discovery in 1846.* Dr. Charles T. Jackson accidentally inhaled chlorine gas in 1842 and used ether as an antidote, thus producing partial anesthetization, but he did not pursue the subject further at that time. Although Jefferson was a small village and Doctor Long a young physician, he operated on at least eight cases, each being thoroughly successful, before Morton claimed to have discovered anesthesia. It is claimed that Doctor Long kept his discovery secret, and therefore deserved no credit for it. The affidavits of Dr. Ange DeLaperriere and Dr. Joseph B. Carlton show that Doctor Long informed them and other physicians, and that they used ether successfully in their surgical practice before the date of Doctor Morton's announcement. In 1849 Morton asked Congress to reward him for his discovery. Jackson at once opposed him. The friends of Wells, who was then dead,, also protested against his claim. Long refused to enter this contest until 1854, at which time he was urged by his friends to assert vigorously his claim to the honor. He thereupon communicated the facts in the case to United States Senator William C. Dawson, who brought Doctor Long's claim to the attention of Congress, creating consternation among the rival claimants. Much wrangling followed, and the merits of the issue were never determined. The date of Jackson's claim more nearly approaches that of Long's claim than does that of either of the others, but Jackson before his death wrote to Senator Dawson, acknowledging the justice of Long's claim. Congress having failed to settle the disputed question of priority in the discovery of anesthesia, Doctor Long failed to receive the credit due him until May, 1877, when Dr. J. Marion Sims, of New York, investigated his claims fully and presented them in an able paper published in the Virginia Medical Monthly. To the demand for recognition made by Doctor Sims there was a general response, which brought much cheer to the heart of the distinguished discoverer. Eminent physicians the world over hastened to give him full credit for the great boon conferred upon humanity, and since then his claims to distinction as the discoverer of anesthesia have not seriously been questioned. * Morton called the anesthetic which he patented "Letheon." It is today known as ether. Wells committed suicide in the City of New York, where he became mentally unbalanced after fruitless efforts to establish his claim. Morton communicated his idea to Dr. J. C. Warren, of Boston, who is alleged to have performed the first 'public operation on a person anesthetized with ether, at the Massachusetts General Hospital, October 16, 1846. Jackson perfected a process of etherization for which the French Academy offered him a prize of 2,000 francs. Dr. James Y. Simpson, a Scotch physician of Edinburgh, who discovered chloroform anesthesia, in 1856, was created a baronet. * * * For ten years after his discovery of the anesthetic powers of sulphuric ether, Doctor Long continued the practice of his profession in Jefferson. He then removed to Athens, in which city he became a most distinguished physician, and where he lived until his death, twentysix years later. He was a splendid type of the Southern gentleman of ante-bellum days. At the bedside of the rich and the poor his ministrations soothed and comforted; through the blinding storm, often in the dead of night, he went without complaining to those who needed him; and to the last moment of his stay on earth his life was typical of the discovery with which his name will be forever associated, a life of blessing to those with whom he came in contact. He often remarked that his one great wish was to die in harness. On June 16, 1878, he was called to the bedside of a patient in whose case he was deeply interested. While performing the duties incident to the case, he suffered a stroke of apoplexy, from which death came in a few hours. The brain which had given to the world the blessings of anesthesia was at rest, but it left behind a gift to humanity the importance of which can never be estimated. On April 21, 1910, there was unveiled at Jefferson, near the scene of Doctor Long's discovery, a monument of impressive dimensions. Thousands of visitors witnessed the dramatic spectacle, including a number of specially invited guests; and some of the most eminent surgeons and physicians of the land were present for the purpose of doing honor to the memory of the great philanthropist. Dr. Woods Hutchison, of New York, and Hon. Pleasant A. Stovall, of Savannah, were the orators of the occasion, but there were several other addresses made by distinguished speakers. It was a red-letter day in the history of Jefferson. The monument stands on one of the main thoroughfares of the town, a perpetual reminder of the great event with which the name of the little community is forever associated; and inscribed upon it are the following records: (NORTH) Sulphuric Ether Anaesthesia was discovered by Dr. Crawford W. Long, on March 30, 1842, at Jefferson, Ga., and administered to James M. Venable for the removal of a tumor. (EAST) In memory of Dr. Crawford W. Long, the first discoverer of anaesthesia, the great benefactor to the human race. Born, Danielsville, Madison County, Ga., Nov. 1, 1813. Died, Athens, Ga., June 16, 1878. (SOUTH) Given by Dr. Lamartine Griffin Hardman, of Commerce, Jackson Co., Ga., in the name of his father and mother, Dr. W. B. J. Hardman and Mrs. E. S. Hardman, life-long friends of Dr. Crawford W. Long-Dr. W. B. J. Hardman being a physician in Jackson County. (WEST) Erected by the Jackson County Medical Association, at On March 30, 1912, a handsome bronze medallion in honor of Doctor Long was unveiled in the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. The exercises occurred on the seventieth anniversary of the great achievement which this impressive ceremonial was intended to commemorate, and some of the most distinguished men of science in America were present. The following extract from "Old Penn,' a weekly review published by the University, gives an account of the exercises: "Dr. Crawford Williamson Long, who first made use of ether as an anaesthetic for surgical purposes on March 30, 1842, was memorialized on Saturday afternoon, March 30, 1912, when a handsome gilt bronze medallion was unveiled in his honor. The exercises were held in the Medical Building of the University of Pennsylvania. Addresses were made by Dr. J. William White, of the University, and Dr. J. Chalmers Da Costa, of Jefferson Medical College. The medallion was modeled by Dr. R. Tait McKenzie of the University, and represents Dr. Long as a young man administering ether for the first time to a patient about to be operated upon. "Provost Edgar F. Smith presided and introduced the speakers. The tablet was unveiled by Mrs. Florence L. Bartow, a daughter of Dr. Long, after the address of Dr. J. William White, and the ceremonies closed with a brief reply by Hon. Samuel J. Tribble, who thanked the University on behalf of the family and the State of Georgia, for the honor the University had conferred upon an illustrious graduate. The presence of three distinguished Southern ladies, Mrs. Frances Long Taylor, Mrs. Alexander O. Harper, and Mrs. Florence L. Bartow, the daughters of Dr. Long, added great interest and dignity to the occasion. They came from Athens, Georgia, for the express purpose of attending the ceremonies, and during their stay in Philadelphia were the guests of the University."-"Old Penn," Weekly Review of the University of Pennsylvania. Today there is not a physician of any recognized prominence in any part of the civilized world who is not familiar with the name of Crawford W. Long. The little office in which he performed his experiments has been torn away. Until two years ago, a gnarled and knotted old mulberry tree, on the north corner of the public square, marked the exact spot where his first operation was performed, an epoch-making event; but this, too, has now disappeared. Its sacrifice was demanded by a commercial age. Tell it not in Gath, but the tree was given by the town authorities to an old negro for fire-wood. Fate intervened, however; and it was bought from the old negro by Mr. W. H. Smith, of Vol. II-5 Jefferson, who had a part of it made into gavels, pen staffs, and other articles of use, for souvenirs. On a marble slab, in the brick wall of a building adjacent to Doctor Long's little office, the date of his wonderful discovery has been inscribed. This slab was erected by Prof. S. P. Orr, of Athens, an intimate friend of the Long family. There is also a magnificent monument to his memory on the town square. Dr. Woods Hutchison, of New York, and Hon. Pleasant A. Stovall, of Savannah, made the principal addresses, as above stated, when the monument was unveiled by the Georgia Medical Society, on April 21, 1910. |