A recent letter in Anesthesiology written by Brodsky JD sets the record straight on a surprisingly common misconception in anesthesia history: who actually used ether first?
Most of us were taught that William T. G. Morton earned the title of the “father of anesthesia” after his famous 1846 public demonstration of ether at Massachusetts General Hospital. Morton undoubtedly changed the world that day. But he wasn’t the first.
The true first use of ether for surgical anesthesia happened more than four years earlier.
In 1842, Dr. Crawford W. Long, a rural Georgia physician, used ether successfully for surgical anesthesia during the removal of a neck mass. He continued using ether in his surgical and obstetrical practice throughout the 1840s. His only misstep was not publishing his results until 1849, in a relatively obscure journal, which limited widespread recognition.
Morton, however, benefitted from immediate publicity. His 1846 demonstration was witnessed by Boston surgeon Henry Bigelow, who rapidly published a detailed report. As the news spread, Morton’s name became cemented in medical history.
Morton and his colleague Charles Jackson even attempted to patent a mixture of ether and orange oil (Letheon), trying to stake exclusive claim to the “discovery.” But ultimately, historical review has favored accuracy over marketing.
In 1940, the United States government formally honored Dr. Crawford W. Long as the first person to use ether anesthesia, issuing a commemorative postage stamp in his name.
Key Points
• Ether anesthesia was first used surgically by Dr. Crawford W. Long in 1842, not Morton.
• Morton gained historical credit because his demonstration received immediate national publicity.
• Morton and Charles Jackson attempted to patent an ether mixture called Letheon.
• Long’s delayed publication and geographic isolation limited early recognition.
• Modern scholarship and the U.S. government formally recognize Long as the true pioneer.
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