No. 129.] 167 



ETHERIZATION OF ANIMALS AND OF MAN. 



During the winter of 1841-42 I discovered that the nerves of 

 sensation could be temporarily paralyzed to all sensation of pain 

 by the pulmonary inhalation of the vapor of pure sulphimc ether 

 (oxide of ethyle,) mixed with air, and that while the human 

 body was thus affected, that any surgical operation could be per- 

 formed upon the etherized patient without producing any painful 

 sensations. In 1846 I caused this discovery to be practically 

 exemplified by applying it in surgical operations both in this 

 country and in Europe, where it was also used by my directions. 

 I also indicated its use in preventing all sensation of pain in 

 domestic animals, upon which surgical operations were to be per- 

 formed either for the cure of diseases, or for rendering them 

 more serviceable to man. 



In the Veterinary College of Alfort, in France, this latter ap- 

 plication was fully tested and verified by experiments upon horses 

 belonging to the French army, and it was found to be both effi- 

 cient and safe, no serious accident having taken place in any of 

 the operations. In this country but few experiments have been 

 made in the use of this means of alleviating sufiering in animals, 

 and therefore I propose to call the attention of the American 

 Institute to the importance of tkis subject. 



In many cases fractured or dislocated limbs of valuable ani- 

 mals could be cured if they were rendered managable during 

 the operation so that the proper adjustments might be made and 

 the dressings applied. This may readily be accomplished by 

 rendering the animal insensible to pain, and unconscious by the 

 administration of ether vapor as I shall describe. 



Severe surgical operations such as the division of nerves ; the 

 application of actual cautery; the removal of tumors and the 

 castration of domestic animals may also be rendered entirely 

 painless by this method. 



Humanity to the brute creation requires it of us that we should 

 inflict no unnecessary pain upon them, and it is our duty to avail 



