W T G Morton: The Man who Popularized Ether Quiz

Answer: William Thomas Green

He was the son of James Morton, an affluent farmer, and Rebecca Morton.

Answer: Charlton, Massachusetts

Morton was born on 9th August 1819 at Charlton, Massachusetts, a little town in the Connecticut Valley.
Crawford Long was born in Danielsville, Madison County, Georgia.
Hartford, Vermont was the birthplace of Horace Wells.
Charles Thomas Jackson was born at Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The names of all three of them are associated with the life and work of W.T.G. Morton.

Answer: Dentist

He was a dentist and a physician by profession.

Though he practiced dentistry and claimed to have graduated, historians believe that he never attended any dental school. However, later he was awarded an honorary medical degree by the Washington University, Maryland.

Answer: His in-laws

Morton chose dentistry as a career. He married Elizabeth Whitman, who came from a very affluent family. Her parents objected to this marriage on account of his profession. They finally consented to the marriage but only after Morton agreed to pursue a career in medicine.

Answer: Horace Wells

Horace Wells underwent a tooth extraction of his own under the influence of nitrous oxide inhalation. But he failed to reproduce the effect in a public demonstration, where the patient screamed.

William Harvey is credited with the discovery of human circulation.

James Young Simpson discovered chloroform but much later than Morton's claim to fame.

John Snow was inspired by Morton's work.

Answer: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

It was the Bulfinch Building in Massachusetts General Hospital, which later on came to be known as 'The Ether Dome'. It took place on 16 October, 1846 in front of a full house. Morton administered ether to his patient successfully.

St. Luke's Hospital, New York City, is the place where Morton died.

Answer: Dr. John Collins Warren

Dr Warren who was the surgeon involved. At around 10:15 in the morning, he removed a tumour Edward Gilbert Abbott, who was under influence of ether, administered by Morton, and after waking up said he did not feel any pain. After the procedure, Dr Warren exclaimed to the audience, "Gentlemen, this is no humbug." This remark has become one of the most memorable quotes in the history of medicine. Actually this remark came in relation to the failed demonstration of Horace Wells, which was denoted as 'humbug'.

Dr. Bigelow published the first account of ether administration and gave due credit to Morton.

Augustus A. Gould helped Morton prepare a device for ether administration.

R.H. Eddy was the man who inspired Morton to patent his discovery.

Answer: Letheon

Morton tried to patent a concoction of ether, disguised with oil of orange. But the classical smell of ether gave it away. Ultimately he never got the patent also.

Heliox is a mixture of helium in oxygen used in respiratory diseases and diving.

Sugammadex is a very new drug in anesthesia currently undergoing phase III trial.

Answer: Ether Day

16th October is celebrated by anaesthetists the world over as The Ether Day.

Answer: His wife, Elizabeth

"My husband's great gift, which he devoted to the service of mankind, proved a curse to himself and to his family."

Morton spent his life trying to get recognition for his discovery which unfortunately he never got in his lifetime. He gave up the practice of dentistry and devoted all his time to popularize ether for which he expected to get a patent and royalties. He died at the age of 49 years, bankrupt from litigation.