October 11, 2002

For the 57th year, MGH honors employees and staff on Ether Day

It is a day of celebration that has been recognized at the MGH for the past 57 years – Ether Day. It is a time to honor MGH employees and staff for their commitment and length of service to the hospital. Their day-to-day accomplishments, large and small, embody the vision and dedication that was inspired 156 years ago, when a milestone event took place at the MGH that would forever change the medical world – the first-ever public demonstration of ether used as an anesthetic. It was on Oct. 16, 1846, that the idea of pain-free surgery became a reality.

William T.G. Morton, a Boston dentist, administered the anesthetic to a patient, rendering him unconscious in the operating theater on the top floor of the Bulfinch Building – now called the Ether Dome. MGH co-founder John Collins Warren, MD, surgically removed a vascular tumor from the patient's jaw in a pain-free
procedure. Because of that medical phenomenon, MGHers now celebrate Ether Day on a day in October, close to the anniversary of that historic surgery.

This year's annual Ether Day celebration is held Oct. 11, with a reception in the Bulfinch Tent. A special presentation honors the more than 1,800 employees and staff who have worked at the hospital for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 60 years. The honored employees receive pins and colored flowers distinguishing years of service. Inserted in this issue of Hotline is a listing of this year's honorees.

Congratulations and thank you to all MGHers who are honored this Ether Day.