World Anaesthesia Day !

Also known as ETHER DAY.

Let’s Celebrate ETHER DAY !

Ether,

Ether was discovered in 1275 by Spanish chemist Raymundus Lullius.  This new discovery was given the name "sweet vitriol."

 

Lullius(CH3CH2)2O

In 1540, the synthesis of ether was described

by German scientist Valerius Cordus.  

Swiss physician

and alchemist Paracelsus discovere

d the hypnotic effects of ether.  

Later, in 1730, German scientist W.G. Frobenius

changed the name of sweet vitriol to ether.

Scientists and physicians used ether for many different things, but not yet as an

anesthetic agent.   In 1794, English physicians Richard Pearson and Thomas Beddoes used ether in the treatment of

phthisis, catarrhal fever, bladder calculus, and scurvy.   These treatments

were performed at the Beddoes' Pneumatic Institute.   A little later In

1805, American physicians used ether to treat pulmonary inflammation.

Pearson Beddoes

The first surgical anesthetic use of ether is credited to Dr. Crawford Williamson

Long, MD, age 27, of Jefferson, Georgia.   On March 30, 1842, he removed one of

the two tumors from the neck of Mr. James Venable under ether anesthesia.   Apparently, he had used ether for minor

surgery as early as 1841, and had originally learned about ether during

"ether frolics" while in medical school at the University of Pennsylvania.  

Unfortunately for Dr. Long, he did not publish the results until 1848.

Dr. Crawford Long,The first use of Ether.

Dr . W.T.G. Morton

William Thomas Green

Morton

•William Thomas Green William Thomas Green Morton was born in 1819 in Morton was born in 1819 in

Massachusetts. From a Massachusetts. From a young age he aspired to young age he aspired to

study medicine but study medicine but unfortunately lacked the unfortunately lacked the capital to do so and so capital to do so and so

chose the less expensive chose the less expensive option of dentistry.option of dentistry.

He trained predominantly under He trained predominantly under the guidance of Horace Wells and the guidance of Horace Wells and

together they started a dental together they started a dental practice. practice.

He began studies at Boston He began studies at Boston medical schoolmedical school

under the guidance of prestigious under the guidance of prestigious surgeon Charles Jackson. Here he surgeon Charles Jackson. Here he

began investigations into the began investigations into the properties of Ether.properties of Ether.

• Dr. Morton, a dentist, pre-Dr. Morton, a dentist, pre-medical student began to medical student began to

receive information about the receive information about the use of ether from Dr. Jackson. In use of ether from Dr. Jackson. In 1846, after learning more about 1846, after learning more about

"ether frolics," Morton began "ether frolics," Morton began secret experiments with ether. secret experiments with ether.

He experimented on himself and He experimented on himself and on small animals at his home . on small animals at his home .

On September 30, 1846 at 9 p.m. On September 30, 1846 at 9 p.m. in his Boston office, he in his Boston office, he

painlessly removed a tooth from painlessly removed a tooth from city merchant Eben H. Frost. city merchant Eben H. Frost.

•Morton held a handkerchief Morton held a handkerchief over the patients’ mouth over the patients’ mouth

and dripped ether onto it .and dripped ether onto it .

Boston Daily Boston Daily Evening Evening

Transcript, Transcript, October 1st October 1st

18461846

•The first successful The first successful demonstration of ether demonstration of ether

anesthesia occurred at the anesthesia occurred at the Massachusetts General Massachusetts General Hospital on October 16, Hospital on October 16, 1846 at approximately 1846 at approximately

10:15 a.m10:15 a.m

The Ether Dome, Boston, MassachusettsThe Ether Dome, Boston, Massachusetts

•To administer the ether, a To administer the ether, a glass reservoir was glass reservoir was

developed by Joseph M. developed by Joseph M. Wightman and Nathan B. Wightman and Nathan B.

Chamberlain.  Last minute Chamberlain.  Last minute changes to perfect the changes to perfect the device were made by device were made by

Morton.Morton.

•After administering the After administering the ether, Morton said to Dr. ether, Morton said to Dr. Warren, "Your patient is Warren, "Your patient is

ready, sir."   Under general ready, sir."   Under general anesthesia.anesthesia.

•Dr. Warren removed a Dr. Warren removed a congenital vascular congenital vascular

malformation from 20 year-malformation from 20 year-old Edward Gilbert Abbott's old Edward Gilbert Abbott's

neck. neck. 

Interesting painting depicting the first demonstration of ether and the key individuals present.

•After the surgery, the After the surgery, the patient replied "I did not patient replied "I did not experience pain at any experience pain at any

time, though I knew that time, though I knew that the operation was the operation was

proceeding."  proceeding."  

•In 1847 Morton In 1847 Morton published the first published the first

article on the use of article on the use of ether, titled "Remarks ether, titled "Remarks on the Proper Mode of on the Proper Mode of

Administering Sulphuric Administering Sulphuric Ether by Inhalation."   Ether by Inhalation."  

ETHER ETHER MONUMENTMONUMENT

•Ether monument at Boston public garden at 1868.

•He died in 1868 at He died in 1868 at the age of 49 years.the age of 49 years.

DR.W.T.G. DR.W.T.G. MortonMorton

burial Siteburial Site

Boston public gardan

•Bigelow kindly had inscribed on Bigelow kindly had inscribed on Morton’s headstone:Morton’s headstone:

‘‘Before whom, In all time, Surgery Before whom, In all time, Surgery was Agonywas Agony

By whom, pain in surgery was By whom, pain in surgery was avertedaverted

Since whom, science has control Since whom, science has control over pain’over pain’

Dr. W.T.G. Morton houseDr. W.T.G. Morton house