Discovery of etherization : brief embracing the legal points of Dr. Morton's case.

  • Morton, W. T. G. (William Thomas Green), 1819-1868.
Date:
[1840?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Discovery of etherization : brief embracing the legal points of Dr. Morton's case. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Morior\) WilK*/^ 'Thorn* J DISCOVERY OF ETHERIZATION. BRIEF EMBRACING THE LEGAL POINTS or M. MORTON'S CASE. The practical questions, of strict right, are— 1. Is this discovery legally private property, and to whom does it belong ? 2. Has the Government of the United States appro- priated, and is it now appropriating, this private pro- perty to the public use, without just compensation ? 3. Ought such compensation to be now made for the past, and the right for the future to be now purchased ? 4. How much ought to be appropriated for this purpose! These questions concern strict obligation only. The questions addressing themselves to the equity and sound policy of Congress, are— 1. Is this a case in which this party is entitled to an honorable and munificent national reward ? 2. Is it a case in which, from its peculiar circum- stances, the policy of the Patent laws has been defeated, so that the discoverer has reaped no fruit, but only suffered losses, from a discovery conferring inexpressi- ble benefits upon the country and the world ? Has the Government itself contributed to this result ? Is the patent practically valueless to the discoverer: and ought Congress to reward him liberally, and, by pro-