William Thomas Morton, 1819-1868 American Pioneer of Modern Anesthesiology Who Invented the Ether Inhaler

Abstract

“By whom pain in surgery was arrested and annulled, before whom, in all time, surgery was agony, since whom science has control of pain” This sculpture, with the above inscription, has been erected in a semi-circle of ten prominent people important to the welfare of man. It is the tenth in the group of ten that is prominently displayed at the Beijing International Sculpture Park, one of the important new parks established in Beijing, China in preparation for the Summer Olympic Games, 2008. As a Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University on August 31, 2007, Doris K. Cope, M.D. gave a lecture on the historical roots of Anesthesiology as a medical specialty and afterwards the residents, fellows, faculty and guests adjourned to this park across from the hospital to pay our respects to W. T. Morton. This enthusiastic group of more than 50 anesthesia students, residents, fellows, faculty members and private practitioners gathered around the Morton Statue taking pictures and sharing memories of their personal journeys in the specialty of Anesthesiology. W.T. Morton as interpreted by the sculptor