he Ether Monument sits in the Boston Public Garden. Its marble and granite images and inscriptions address universal themes: the suffering caused by war, the desire on behalf of loved ones to relieve pain and the triumph of medical science. It commemorates the first public demonstration of inhalation anesthesia, which took place in Boston in 1846. Today it is difficult to imagine the sense of awe and pride when the news of this medical marvel spread all over the world. This event heralded the end of surgery as torture, when all but the simplest procedures were “to be dreaded only less than death itself.”¹ Erected in 1868 to celebrate this remarkable achievement, no other monument related to the origins of American medicine is so rich in history, controversies and allegories.

On the day of the Ether Monument’s dedication, Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, then mayor of Boston (1868-70), promised that it “shall be watched with care and protected from injury...[and] long remain unimpaired by time.”² Unfortunately both human memory and granite are vulnerable to the passage of time. The Ether Monument’s ability to remind future generations of the origins of anesthesia is in jeopardy. Its current deterioration calls for the equivalent of a social crusade to restore its majesty.

The Ether Monument in the Boston Public Garden has stood since 1868.

Periods of neglect and lack of regular maintenance have taken a toll. The lion head fountains at the base of the monument no longer spout water into the surrounding basin because the fountain pump and water line have been broken for years. The empty “Bethesda pool,” which symbolizes a place of healing, is frequently filled with litter and stagnant water. The Good Samaritan atop the monument has suffered the partial loss of a finger and a damaged foot. Moreover the surrounding trees contribute to a yearly buildup of gypsum that smudges the appearance of the marble and granite. The monument also must contend with graffiti and acid rain. Without systematic preservation, the Ether Monument will continue to deteriorate and no longer properly represent such a significant milestone in our history.

Historically there have been various restoration efforts to refurbish the monument. Private citizens, public foundations and professional organizations alike have raised money and contributed for the renovation of the Ether Monument over the years. The most recent was in 1996, on the 150th anniversary of ether, by the Massachusetts Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA).³ Unfortunately it has become increasingly clear that past restoration efforts, while commendable, have only been palliative treatments to periodic crises. Outdoor statues and monuments require regular, professional and systematic care.

Thankfully the stars seem to finally be aligned for a complete, enduring restoration of the Ether Monument, and a serious effort is currently under way. The city of Boston has allocated approximately $250,000 for its renovation and is committed to reengineering the fountains, reconditioning the granite and marble surfaces and adding lighting for night viewing. Additionally the Solomon Fund, MSA, the Friends of the Public Garden and Anaesthesia Associates of Massachusetts are dedicating significant resources for its restoration and continuing upkeep.

Experts agree that equally important to the restoration is the establishment of an endowment to ensure the continuing maintenance of the monument. Multiple well-coordinated efforts are under way to raise public awareness and attract contributions, including the production of an illustrated coffee table-style book. A walking tour to the Ether Monument was scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 20, 2006, to coincide with a groundbreaking ceremony for the restoration. A rededication is being planned to celebrate the restoration’s completion at the end of this summer. High-ranking municipal officials and representatives of the anesthesiology community will attend. Media coverage is assured. A successful partnership between the city of Boston and the private sector for the sake of saving an important public symbol is a newsworthy event. By illuminating its complexity, historic significance and beauty, we hope to persuade everyone to make a contribution for its renovation and preservation for future generations.

While William T.G. Morton’s demonstration took place at the Massachusetts General Hospital, the discovery belongs, in large part, to the citizens of Boston. It has been said that “the uniqueness of the ether event in 1846 Boston ... rests on the fact that the demonstration occurred in a place where afterwards it would be understood and accepted. It is this framework of acceptance that ultimately explains why Boston was the venue for the introduction of ether to the world and why history has conferred upon Boston the eternal thanks of man in his quest to relieve suffering.”⁴

With your help, we can raise enough money to completely restore the monument and create an endowment to ensure that it exists for future generations to appreciate. All will benefit. Print and television media, drawn by the renovation story, can remind the public of the Ether Monument’s significance. And health care providers, particularly anesthesiologists, who donate to the cause will be lauded for their altruistic concerns and community involvement.

Without ether, advances in many medical fields, not just anesthesiology, would have been delayed if not missed. The Ether Monument reminds us not just of this powerful drug but of the intrepid pioneers and their remarkable achievement as well as the generous benefactors who chose to commemorate this historic event and preserve it for future generations — a select group that we hope you will join.

For more information on the restoration of the Ether Monument and its endowment, visit <www.ethermonument.org>.

References:
1. Honoring the conqueror of pain. Boston Daily Globe. Boston, 1896:6,18-19.
2. Proceedings at the Dedication of the Ether Monument. City Document No. 101, City of Boston, 1868:5-13.
3. Conlay LA, Ryan JF. Monument to a momentous event. ASA Newsl. 1996; 60(9):18-19.
4. Campagna JA. The end of religious fatalism: Boston as the venue for the demonstration of ether for the intentional relief of pain. Surgery. 2005; 138:46-55.

Rafael A. Ortega, M.D., is Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Vice-Chairman of Academic Affairs, Department of Anesthesiology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.