Happy Ether Day!

Happy Ether Day!

If it was Ether Day on this day in 1908, then it must be Ether Day today! I stumbled across one reference, but had a hard time finding any other, though I did find a few. On October 16, 1908, the Palestine Daily Herald, of Palestine, Texas, reported on it, as did Washington Times on October 16, 1913.

What is this happy holiday and how do we celebrate it? It’s the anniversary of the first successful use of anesthesia, first done in 1846. Wikipedia points out the the chemistry challenged that the specific compound in question is dimethyl ether (CH₃OCH₃), and that ethers are a whole class of chemical compounds.[1]

Here’s what the Palestine Herald reported on the sixty-second anniversary:

“Ether Day” Observed

Special to the Herald.
Boston, Mass., Oct 16.—“Ether Day,” the sixty-second anniversary of the discovery of ether as a anaesthetic in surgery, was observed at the Massachusetts General Hospital today in pursuance of an annual custom inaugurated many years since. The chief feature of the observance was an address by Professor William H. Welch of Johns Hopkins University. The exercise were attended by many physicians and surgeons of wide prominence, including representatives of medical schools and hospitals throughout the country.

No word on whether or not the ceremonies involved getting high on ether. Five years later, the Washington Times wrote:

“Ether Day” Observed

BOSTON. Oct. 16.—“Ether Day,” the sixty-seventh anniversary of the introduction of ether as a anesthetic in surgery, was observed at the Massachusetts General Hospital today in pursuance of an annual custom inaugurated many years ago. It was on October 16, 1846, that Dr. Thomas Morton, of the hospital staff, performed the first surgical operation on a patient under the influence of ether.

Clearly off a press release. Did you notice how similar the first sentence of each article was? It’s probably all the more evident when you have to type them. Here’s the first sentence with the changes in brackets. I’ve put the 1908 text first, then a slash and the 1913 text.

“Ether Day” Observed
Boston, [Mass., / ] Oct 16.—“Ether Day,” the sixty-[second/seventh] anniversary of the [discovery/introduction] of ether as a [anaesthetic/anesthetic] in surgery, was observed at the Massachusetts General Hospital today in pursuance of an annual custom inaugurated many years [since/ago].

They kept going at it.
Must be a great party.

Five changes. Someone freshened up the press release. And still no reference to whether doctors or medical students did their own happy experiments with ether to mark the day.[2] But that was more than a century ago. Do they still celebrate Ether Day? Will there be an Ether bunny?[3]

I am happy to note that it seems clear that Massachusetts General Hospital still celebrates Ether Day. According to their website, in 1945, the day was transformed from a celebration of medical advances to a celebration of those who where recognized for their continuing service to MGH.

It is, of course, a day to be grateful if one has had any sort of surgery.

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1. I took chemistry years ago. I’m sure I used to know that.  ↩
   
2. Of course I understand that would be a violation of medical ethics. No getting high on the job.  ↩
   
3. I’m sorry. I had to say that. I know I shouldn’t have, but it really was obligatory.  ↩
   

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