What anaesthetic discovery was the main turning point in surgery? By who? When?

• A. James Simpson, 1847, chloroform
• B. William Morton, 1846, ether
• C. Humphrey Davy, nitrous oxide
• D. Carl Koller, cocaine

Answer: (A)

Introducing a reliable general anaesthetic transformed surgery. The best answer points to James Simpson’s discovery of chloroform in 1847 because it provided a practical, controllable way to put patients to sleep for operations, allowing surgeons to perform longer and more complex procedures with less pain and distress. Chloroform spread quickly in medical practice due to its rapid onset and easier dose control, which made anesthesia more accessible and standard in operating theatres. This marked a turning point by moving surgery from painful, landmark procedures to routine, deeper operations. In contrast, ether had been used earlier but was less convenient—flammable, irritating, and slower to take effect—while nitrous oxide offered only partial pain relief, and cocaine worked as a local anaesthetic rather than a general one.