The administration of ether.

Ether vapour has stood the test of one hundred years this year and it still holds first place as the safest anaesthetic agent. It has only two indisputable drawbacks in comparison with all other agents; these are inflammability and the dislike most people have for its smell. All other disadvantages so often lauded are by no means proven. It is not suggested for a moment that ether is the first and last word in anaesthesia but until such time as a safer and better agent or agents are discovered, it is well to be conversant with the various methods of its administration. These are:-