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Quiz about W T G Morton The Man who Popularized Ether
Quiz about W T G Morton The Man who Popularized Ether

W T G Morton: The Man who Popularized Ether Quiz


Once Charles Darwin was asked what was the most important discovery in the nineteenth century. He replied, it was 'painless surgery'. The advent of anaesthesia has revolutionized modern medicine. This quiz is a tribute to the man who started it all.

A multiple-choice quiz by shamroc. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
shamroc
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
297,086
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
248
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What does 'W.T.G.' stand for? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Where was Morton born? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What was Morton's profession? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Who or what made Morton pursue a career in medicine? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Whose unsuccessful experiments with 'painless surgery' inspired Morton? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Morton continued with his experiment with ether. He successfully administered ether in a number of patients for painless tooth extraction, which were of course done by him. But to convince the scientific community he needed a public demonstration with the use of his 'wonder drug' for a major surgical case. Where did this demonstration ultimately take place? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Who was the surgeon who operated on the patient under the influence of ether at Morton's public demonstration in 1846? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Morton tried to get a patent for ether. What did he call the substance? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. To commemorate this discovery 16th October is celebrated all over the world in a special way. What day is it? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Who commented " ...great gift, which he devoted to the service of mankind, proved a curse to himself and to his family"?
Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What does 'W.T.G.' stand for?

Answer: William Thomas Green

He was the son of James Morton, an affluent farmer, and Rebecca Morton.
2. Where was Morton born?

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.
3. What was Morton's profession?

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.
4. Who or what made Morton pursue a career in medicine?

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.
5. Whose unsuccessful experiments with 'painless surgery' inspired Morton?

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.
6. Morton continued with his experiment with ether. He successfully administered ether in a number of patients for painless tooth extraction, which were of course done by him. But to convince the scientific community he needed a public demonstration with the use of his 'wonder drug' for a major surgical case. Where did this demonstration ultimately take place?

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.
7. Who was the surgeon who operated on the patient under the influence of ether at Morton's public demonstration in 1846?

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.
8. Morton tried to get a patent for ether. What did he call the substance?

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.
9. To commemorate this discovery 16th October is celebrated all over the world in a special way. What day is it?

Answer: Ether Day

16th October is celebrated by anaesthetists the world over as The Ether Day.
10. Who commented " ...great gift, which he devoted to the service of mankind, proved a curse to himself and to his family"?

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.
Source: Author shamroc

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