Tri-State medical journal and practitioner . orton. Though this paper has already reached a length much in excess ofthe writers original plans, he is unwilling to bring it to a close withoutsome additional reference to the only one of those whose names have beenprominently connected with this tragic history, who is living, thoughnearly three years past the four-score allotted to the best of men. When Dr. Horace Wells gave up his life, anaesthesia by the adminis-tration of nitrous oxide died with him. Gardiner Q. Colton, who had been the original agent in introducing itto Dr. Wells, gave
Tri-State medical journal and practitioner . orton. Though this paper has already reached a length much in excess ofthe writers original plans, he is unwilling to bring it to a close withoutsome additional reference to the only one of those whose names have beenprominently connected with this tragic history, who is living, thoughnearly three years past the four-score allotted to the best of men. When Dr. Horace Wells gave up his life, anaesthesia by the adminis-tration of nitrous oxide died with him. Gardiner Q. Colton, who had been the original agent in introducing itto Dr. Wells, gave up the lyceum platform in 1849, and joined that tide ofpeople, who were attracted to the golden sands of California. We do not Historical Sketch. ] 129 learn that he ever delved with pick and shovel, but know that he was anadjuster of the misunderstandings of those who did, for he was the firstJustice of the Peace in San Francisco, and we do not think that any of hisdecisions were ever reversed by a higher court. In a few years he returned. Sir James Y. Simpson. to the east, but soon lost his Californian wealth in the salt springs cfSyracuse, N. Y., and returned to his former occupation as a scientificlecturer. Though he was accustomed to tell his audiences of the anaestheticproperties of the laughing-gas, no one became enough interested in it todesire a repetition of Dr. Wells fateful experience. 130 REMINISCENCES—BORCK. It was not until June, 1863, again in the State of Connecticut, that H. Smith, a New Haven dentist, concluded to try the gas, and again was requested to administer it. Again it was a success, and suchwas the fame that this second-time discovered anaesthetic agent broughtto Dr. Smith and Mr. Colton that they, in the twenty-four days which theycontinued to operate together in New Haven, extracted over three thousandteeth under the anaesthetic influence of nitrous oxide. Mr. Colton abandoned his other scientific work, and came to NewYork City a
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