William T. G. Morton

William T. G. Morton was an American dentist and one of the pioneers in the field of anesthesiology. In 1846, he famously demonstrated the use of ether as a surgical anesthetic during a public operation at Massachusetts General Hospital. This innovation marked a significant milestone in medicine, allowing surgeries to be performed without the patient feeling pain. Morton's work fundamentally changed surgical practices and improved patient care, making procedures safer and more humane. His contributions helped establish the importance of anesthesia in modern medicine.