The Ether Monument: A Story of Beauty and Controversy. A film by Rafael Ortega (DVD). On October 16, 1846, the first successful public demonstration of ether anesthesia took place in Boston, Massachusetts. As one of the most important achievements in the history of medicine, inhalation anesthesia heralded the end of surgery as agony and revolutionized medical care worldwide. This documentary explains the significance of the monument celebrating this extraordinary event and strives to inspire future generations to preserve this magnificent work of art. Approximate Running Time: 22 minutes.