Ether Day

The true story of the men behind the first surgical use of anesthesia—and the price they paid for their breakthrough.On Friday, October 16, 1846, only one operation was scheduled at Massachusetts General Hospital . . .That day in Boston, the operation was the routine removal of a growth from a man''s neck. But one thing would not be routine: instead of using pulleys, hooks, and belts to subdue a p...