illiam T.G. Morton was buried in the Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts, on November 13, 1869. One year later, Jacob Bigelow, M.D., collected the funds to erect a monument in his memory, and its four sides were inscribed with these famous¹ sentiments. [Figure 1]:

Wm. T.G. MORTON
Inventor and Revealer of Anesthetic Inhalation
Born August 9, 1819, Died July 15, 1868

BEFORE WHOM
In all time Surgery was Agony.

BY WHOM
Pain in Surgery was averted and annulled.

SINCE WHOM
Science has control of pain.

Erected by Citizens of Boston.

The lettering has deteriorated and lost definition [Figure 2]. Acid precipitation from rain and sulfur dioxide in the air have eroded the marble. The resulting appearance is sometimes called “sugaring”² and is due to the marble disintegrating into crystals of calcite.

Figure 1: The Morton Monument in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Photo by Gerald L. Zeitlin, M.D.

Figure 2: Written in Stone, But Fading With Time The process of repairing the inscriptions on the Morton Monument will not be easy — if it can indeed be done at all. Photo by Gerald L. Zeitlin, M.D.

Can anything be done to halt or reverse this process on the Morton Monument? Indeed, should anything be done? It might be argued that it has taken 135 years (1870-2005) for the inscriptions to deteriorate to their present condition and that they might still be somewhat legible in 2140 (2005 + 135)

The remainder of this article summarizes the recommendations of the authorities at the Mount Auburn Cemetery.³ In theory the lettering could either be chiseled out by hand using a sharp tool or by using a stencil and a sand-blasting machine. But in the attempt to provide crisp edges to the letters, pieces would break off unpredictably. Is it possible to hone down the marble plate carrying the inscription and start afresh? To achieve a smooth surface, one would have to take at least one-quarter inch off the surface. That would adversely affect the appearance of the surrounding molding.

Also, once honed and reinscribed, the process of erosion starts all over again. There are records of stones at Mount Auburn where this was done 50 years ago, and the new inscriptions are approaching illegibility. There also are questions of authenticity. Replacing the existing marble plates reduces the historical value of the monument. There are consolidants available to prevent further deterioration, but they have not been in use long enough to allow predictions of their future effectiveness.

Installation of a bronze plaque at the foot of the monument displaying Dr. Bigelow’s words represents the best compromise. Bronze changes color, but its structure is virtually impervious to degradation. No attempt was made to ascertain the cost of any of these procedures.

Before any work or addition could be undertaken, permission would have to be obtained from a living Morton descendant. I have made attempts to find such a person, but have so far failed.

On my last visit, I noticed that someone had placed flowers against the base of the monument [Figure 1]. I asked the officials if they knew who had done this. No one knew. Could it have been a descendant? Was it a person who had recently undergone surgery and was grateful for the insensibility provided? I, for one, would like to know.

References:
1. Linden-Ward B. Silent City on the Hill. Ohio State University Press: Columbus, OH. 1989:167-196,
2. McGee E. Acid Rain and Our Nation’s Capital. United States Geological Survey; 1997.
3. Personal communications, 2003-2005. Meg Winslow, curator of Historical Collections, Charles “Gus” Fraser, Director of Monuments and Gravestones, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA.

Gerald L. Zeitlin, M.D., is a retired anesthesiologist living in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.