What is 'ether'?

What is 'ether'?

Samuel Seelig (Anesthesiologist, Los Angeles, California) gives expert video advice on: Can general anesthesia be achieved with inhaled anesthesia alone?; How do inhaled anesthetics enter the blood stream? and more...

Ether was the first volatile anaesthetic that was used as an anaesthetic agent. Ether was discovered in the nineteenth century; I believe the 1840's. It was delivered by dropping it on to a gauze which was inside of a mask over the patient's face. Anyone who has ever had an ether anaesthetic, reports that they've had an obnoxious experience, which includes it to be very unnerving and almost hallucinogenic. As a child, most people who have received ether vortex try not to go to sleep and remember the pungent odour of the gas. It had many side effects and has historic interest only at this time.