“…He further said that he presumed that he (Dr. Wilhite) was the first person who had ever profoundly etherized any one—and it was under these circumstances. Dr. Wilhite says that from the time he was ten years old (1832), he was familiar with the use of ether by inhalation as an excitant; that the boys and girls in his neighborhood near Athens. Georgia, were in the constant habit of using it; that there was hardly ever a gathering of young people that did not wind up with an ether frolic. Old-fashioned “quillings” were very common in his day and time, and in the evening the boys and young men would go to these for the purpose of a dance or an ether frolic.

On one occasion, he met several young people at Mr. Ware’s, about five miles west of Athens, at a quilting. The girls and boys all finished the evening by inhaling ether. Some would laugh, some cry, some fight and some dance, just as when nitrous oxide gas is inhaled. It was in the fall of 1839. Wilhite was a romping boy of seventeen. All the boys and all the girls had inhaled the ether, some of them more than once. They were looking around for new subjects for it, when Wilhite saw a negro boy at the door, who seemed to be enjoying the sport. Wilhite invited him to come in and try the ether. He refused. Other young men then insisted on his taking it. He refused again in a most positive manner; whereupon some of the thoughtless young men caught hold of the boy, and called Wilhite to give him the ether. He struggled violently, but they threw him down and held him there while Wilhite poured out some ether on a handkerchief, and pressed it firmly over his mouth and nose. He fought furiously. They persisted, thinking it was great fun. After a long struggle, the boy became quiet and unresisting. The 3 young men then let him alone. They were greatly surprised that he did not get up immediately and say or do some foolish thing for them to laugh at He lay quietly, and with stertorous breathing. They tried to arouse him, but could not. They then became greatly alarmed, and sent one of their number on horseback for Dr Sydney Reese, at Athens, five miles distant. The messenger rode with all possible speed. He fortunately found Dr. Reese at home, who lost no time in going to Mr. Ware’s. On his arrival he found the negro lying on his back still soundly asleep. The young ladies had left the frightful scene. Young Wilhite, and his principal accomplice, thinking that they had in mere play murdered a fellow-being, were so much alarmed, that they contemplated making their escape from the country; but the timely arrival of Dr. Reese soon restored their courage. Dr. Reese heard the history of the transaction. He then threw water in the face of the sleeping negro, slapped him, raised him up, shook him violently, and after a little he was roused to consciousness, greatly to the relief of all present. The doctor then gave the youngsters a lecture on the danger of such follies, and cautioned them against a repetition of their heedless act. This of course broke up the ether frolics in this neighborhood. Dr. Wilhite thinks it was more than an hour from the time the messenger started for Dr. Reese, till he returned with him to Mr. Ware’s. The distance to Athens and back was ten miles, and all this time the negro boy was profoundly narcotized.”