M.o.M. - Diethyl Ether

On October 16th 1846, the dentist William T. G. Morton gave the first public demonstration, on the use of diethyl ether as a general anesthetic at Massachusetts General Hospital. This event represents a turning point in the history of modern medicine and pharmacology. While this was the first public demonstration, many others contributed to the advancement of general anesthesia including Horace Wells, Charles T. Jackson, Crawford W. Long and more. It is thought that diethyl ether was first synthesized by either alchemists Jābir ibn Hayyān in the 8th century or Ramon Llull in 1275. In 1540, physician Valerius Cordus developed a method to synthesize what he called “oleum dulci vitrioli” or “sweet oil of vitriol” by distilling a mixture of sulfuric acid (oil of vitriol) and strong wine (source of ethanol). Interestingly there is also evidence that physician and alchemist Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (Paracelsus) synthesized and studied diethyl ether as an analgesic around this time as well. Regardless, diethyl ether could now be easily synthesized leading to it being used in Europe and the United States largely for its intoxicating effects including in “ether frolics” until its subsequent discovery as a general anesthetic. While largely replaced as a general antiesthetic, diethyl ether remains an important organic solvent in chemistry and as a starting fluid in fuels.