In 1846, William T.G. Morton is credited with what achievement?

• A. Crawford Long
• B. James Simpson
• C. Joseph Lister
• D. William T.G. Morton

Answer: (D)

The key idea is the first public demonstration of ether anesthesia in surgery. In 1846, William T.G. Morton conducted a public demonstration at Massachusetts General Hospital showing that inhaled ether could render a patient insensible to pain during a surgical procedure. This event is regarded as the birth of modern anesthesia because it made painless surgery possible and opened the door to longer, more complex operations. While others, like Crawford Long, had used ether earlier, Morton’s demonstration was the first to be widely publicized and accepted. Subsequent developments included James Simpson introducing chloroform in 1847 and Joseph Lister advancing antiseptic techniques later on.