Bulletin of anesthesia history
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Biography Historical Article
First use of halothane in the United States, C. Ronald Stephen, M.D. (1916-2006).
Anesthesia is one of the most valued discoveries in all of history. Almost immediately after the first public demonstration of ether anesthesia, a search for a better drug began. Ether, despite its flammability, persisted as the primary inhalation agent for over a hundred years. ⋯ My review of the documents and writings of the three confirm that Dr. C. Ronald Stephen of Duke University was indeed the first to use and publish on halothane anesthesia in the USA.