World Anaesthesia Day: World Anaesthesia Day takes place on October 16 and commemorates the first successful public demonstration of surgical anaesthesia on October 16, 1846.
World Anaesthesia Day
World Anaesthesia Day, also known in some countries as National Anaesthesia Day or Ether Day, is an annual event celebrated around the world on 16 October to commemorate the first successful demonstration of diethyl ether anesthesia by William T. G. Morton on 16 October 1846.
It is considered as one of the most significant events in the history of medicine and was given in an operating theatre at the Massachusetts General Hospital, USA. This discovery helped the patients to undergo surgical treatments without any pain associated with them.
This ranks as one of the most significant events in the history of medicine and took place in an operating theater (now known as the Ether Dome) at the Massachusetts General Hospital, home of the Harvard School of Medicine.
The Ether Dome is a surgical operating amphitheater in the Bulfinch Building at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It was the site of the first public demonstration of the use of inhaled ether as a surgical anesthetic on October 16, 1846, otherwise known as Ether Day.
The Ether Dome event occurred when William Thomas Green Morton, a local dentist, used ether to anesthetize Edward Gilbert Abbott. John Collins Warren, the first dean of Harvard Medical School, then painlessly removed part of a tumor from Abbott’s neck. After Warren had finished, and Abbott regained consciousness, Warren asked the patient how he felt. Reportedly, Abbott said, “Feels as if my neck’s been scratched”
Since 1903, special events are organized to celebrate this remarkable day. The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists celebrates World Anaesthesia Day every year. In this event more than 134 societies representing anesthesiologists from more than 150 countries take part.
For other latest articles on general awareness, entertainment and health topics, please visit read4knowledge.