While it still takes plenty of courage to go through with an operation today, just imagine what it would be if there were no anesthetics and you had to suffer every bit of pain! The fact is, before the use of modern anesthetics, every operation brought agony to the patient and frequently death from pain and shock.

Since ancient times, various herbs, gases, oils, and drugs were used in attempts to control pain, but none were completely successful. There is a good deal of controversy about who discovered anesthesia, and the credit is divided.