Ether anesthesia is used for the first time, in an operation by the American surgeon Dr. Crawford Long.

Ether anesthesia, one of the earliest forms of surgical anesthesia, revolutionized medicine by allowing painless surgical procedures. Its first successful public demonstration occurred on October 16, 1846, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, known as the “Ether Dome.” The procedure, led by dentist William T.G. Morton, involved the removal of a neck tumor from a patient who was rendered unconscious by inhaling ether vapor. Although ether had been known for centuries, primarily as a recreational substance, Morton’s demonstration established it as a viable anesthetic for surgery. Ether quickly gained widespread acceptance due to its efficacy and relative safety compared to other agents like chloroform. Despite its drawbacks—such as flammability and irritation to the respiratory system—ether remained a dominant anesthetic well into the 20th century before being gradually replaced by safer, more efficient agents.