Doctors? Monuments?
I have a couple of those....
This, known affectionately as the “Ether Monument ,” consists of a statue and a fountain; it’s planted in the Public Garden near the corner of Arlington and Beacon streets in Boston , Massachusetts
It commemorates the first successful public demonstration of the use of ether as an anesthetic on October 16, 1846 at Massachusetts General Hospital
It was exactly one hundred years before I was born.
I remember going to see this monument when I was about six or seven and still lived in the Boston Harvard Medical School
He told me that, before ether, many people actually died during surgery – not from the surgery itself, but from the pain of surgery! Ether changed the course of modern medicine, he told me; it saved lives, it allowed for new medical procedures.
I really didn’t care about the ether business; I was mostly fascinated by the beasts carved on the lower panels of the monument!
William Thomas Morton (1819-1868), an American dentist, first learned of the effectiveness of ether in 1844 from his Harvard Medical School chemistry lecturer; he dabbled in experiments (probably using his dental patients and/or himself as guinea pigs), but it wasn’t until 1846 that a truly public demonstration occurred at Massachusetts General Hospital – Dr. John C. Warren painlessly removed a tumor from the neck of a patient who had been anesthetized by the administration of inhaled ether.
Later, William Morton joined the Union Army during the Civil War; he used ether to help more than two thousand wounded soldiers in several battles, including the dreadful Wilderness Campaign.
Interestingly, one of the other soldiers who served in the Wilderness was William W. Howell’s father – my great-grandfather, Selah Howell – who drove an ambulance for the Sanitation Commission.
I wonder if they ever met.
The monument was designed by William Robert Ware, a Boston Boston
"To commemorate that the inhaling of ether causes insensibility to pain," it reads. "First proved to the world at the Mass. General Hospital in Boston
Just think: A monument dedicated to a medical breakthrough that occurred exactly one hundred years before I was born.
I’m honored to share the date.
(Be sure to visit other Sepians: http://www.sepiasaturday.blogspot.com)
On the old cowboy programs they always give the patient as much whiskey as he can drink before they cut off his leg. Sometimes they fainted anyway. I guess ether was a step forward in pain control.
ReplyDeleteAnd probably in addiction, too!
DeleteIntrigued with your carved beasts comment, I went hunting for images, but found remarkably few.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what those beasts are -- maybe lions (wasn't a lion involved in the whole medical myth?). Not many shots of the memorial on line -- maybe we can get Doug (Crazy as a Cool Fox) to make a trip to Boston for a special photo shoot!
DeleteOh my - ether does not bring back good memories for me, although I am sure it was a much heralded advancement at the time and rightfully so. I wrote about my experience here: http://www.abbieandeveline.com/2012/04/23/ice-cream-did-not-make-it-better/
ReplyDeleteI went back and read that post, Kathy -- and agree completely! I, too, have difficulty on boats and airplanes; I can't get off when I want to! I was terrified to be put "under" when I had my hip replacement last March, but sailed through it with flying colors...things have improved!
DeleteAfter my experience with the root canal, it has changed the way I approach things like surgery. I had surgery a couple of years ago and started to panic when they held a little mask over my face as part of the anesthesia so I told them and they said - here you hold it. That sense of control made everything ok.
DeleteYou and I are both Libras!
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting, Deb. A monument, of sorts, to winning the war on pain. I like the part of your Grandpa making sure that you knew about it.
Kathy M.
Ahhhh -- so THAT'S it! When's your birthday? It's not fair that you know mine, but I don't know yours....
DeleteA fascinating account that spanned both local history and family history. It was touching to read about the significance of the date and the memory of your grandfather. r
ReplyDeleteHe was a sweetie! He once operated on my teddy bear -- with surgical mask, instruments, etc. Made new pads for my bear's paws...and he used a little ether so it wouldn't hurt...
DeleteWhat a memory. He must have been a wonderful grandfather.
DeleteI still remember having ether when I was five years old and had a broken arm. They gave it to me twice, and the second time I tried to hold my breath.
ReplyDeleteNever had ether, and from what I'm hearing from people, I'm glad I never did!
DeleteI'm fascinated with all those carvings too. It's so interesting to learn about many of the carvings found in cemeteries and they all have their very own special meanings! Excellent and interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI actually took a night class about funereal art (that's what it's called); it was fascinating! Did a post on this blog about it last year, but may have to do another one. How did you learn about it?
DeleteAn ether fountain, huh? Oh how that makes me think of what tricksters could do.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fascinating piece of history that, like other monuments, is soon forgotten. I think of all the poor statues around with bird poop on them that mean nothing to anybody. Greatness of a person fades, but what they accomplished can live long after them even though they're forgotten.
Some of those monuments, though, are works of art in themselves...and THAT part stays with us all. People, I agree, fade...but that artistic quality might be able to continue on.
Deletevery interesting. My sister was administered ether when she had her tonsils out and then was able to only eat ice cream after the surgery. I was so envious. I never had my tonsils out and never had ether.
ReplyDeleteNancy
My brother had his tonsils out: not only did he get ice cream, but he also got a new fishing rod. I got NOTHING and was pretty cranky about it, too. So, you still have your tonsils? Me, too!
DeleteBravo! You've put together a terrific blend of personal, family, and medical history to fit the theme this weekend. I've read several books recently that depict the agony and suffering of pre-anesthetic surgery. This monument may be too small for the role Morton and Warren played in improving medicine.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mike, for such a nice response! I simply cannot imagine what it was like before anesthesia...and as far as I'm concerned, it might be the biggest breakthrough of all. Would be interested to know what books you're reading...
DeleteA thoroughly enjoyable post! That's a pretty neat granddaddy to share the story with you because of your birthday. I wonder if there are statues commemorating the heart transplant or other such breakthroughs.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet there are other statues that commemorate all kinds of medical breakthroughs, Wendy -- we just don't know about 'em. I've never thought about it before, but I'll certainly keep my eyes peeled from now on!
DeleteI knew of the use of ether but not how its use began. A monument with a monumental meaning.
ReplyDeleteEther kind of went out of style, I guess, replaced by more modern methods. I remember John Irving's "Cider House Rules;" wasn't there a doctor addicted to sniffing ether??
Delete