Sadly, the history of general anesthesia has been somewhat tarnished. A heated dispute erupted over who — Long, Wells, Morton, or Jackson, the eminent chemist who assisted Morton — should get foremost credit for the discovery of anesthesia (not, of course, of the chemical compounds themselves).
Kahjuks on üldanesteesia ajalugu veidi tuhmistanud tulised vaidlused selle üle, kellele – kas Longile, Wellsile, Mortonile või viimast abistanud nimekale keemikule Jacksonile – peaks kuuluma anesteesia esimese avastaja au (siin ei ole mõeldud nende keemiliste ainete avastamist).