Becoming a Physician Anaesthetist—Difficulties Encountered for Half a Century

Abstract

William T.G. Morton was not the first to use ether or nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic. However, his public demonstration on 16 October, 1846 (Ether Day), and the notoriety that followed thereafter, are credited for announcing man's victory over surgical pain to the entire world. The use of ether during surgery spread rapidly through most of the world. One would expect that the careers of Ether Day participants would have been greatly affected by this seminal event and that some would go on to become anaesthetists. An examination of the participants’ professional lives shows that some became strong advocates of anaesthesia and ether was used extensively for their patients. Some were prolific writers and helped spread the use of anaesthesia. However, attracting physicians to this new discipline proved difficult and there were segments of the medical establishment and society who were unwilling to accept this most significant advancement. In this article, we examine the reasons why many physicians and patients resisted the use of anaesthesia.