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Pain-free surgery eluded physicians for centuries, but 26-year-old Crawford Williamson Long successfully removed a tumour from the neck of patient James Venable on 30th March, 1842 - whilst Venable was anaesthetised with ether.\xa0\n\xa0\nDr Long had come to appreciate the \u2018exhilarating effects\u2019 of ether as a result of attending drug-fuelled parties at medical school - known in his coterie as \u2018ether frolics\u2019 - and identifying that, whilst high on ether, he had bruised his body, yet not felt the impact.\n\xa0\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Dr Long experimented on his friends, families and unwitting local youths before applying ether surgically; reveal how Queen Victoria caused chloroform to eclipse ether as the anaesthetic of choice for childbirth; and revisit the religious controversies that arose when doctors started \u2018playing God\u2019...\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018The surprising (and Long) story of the first use of ether in surgery\u2019 (The Conversation, 2019): https://theconversation.com/the-surprising-and-long-story-of-the-first-use-of-ether-in-surgery-113340\n\u2022 \u2018March 30, 1842: It's Lights Out, Thanks to Ether\u2019 (WIRED, 2007): https://www.wired.com/2007/03/march-30-1842-its-lights-out-thanks-to-ether/\n\u2022 \u2018Georgia Stories: What Would Surgery Be Like Without Anaesthesia?\u2019 (GPB, 1995): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG29p8iiZiE\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices