In Boston Public Garden, at Arlington and Marlborough streets, the Ether Monument commemorates the first use of ether as an anesthetic in Boston in 1846. Completed in 1868, the 40-foot granite and marble monument is the garden’s oldest. Look for the Good Samaritan figure at the top, holding a sick man, and the relief scenes and inscriptions around the base. A fountain sits below the monument, giving you a quiet place to pause as you explore the garden.
A monument to ether anesthesia
The Ether Monument commemorates the use of ether as an anesthetic in Boston in 1846. Its completion in 1868 made it the oldest monument in Boston Public Garden. The discovery changed how pain could be managed during surgery, and the monument marks that development in medical history.
The monument stands at the intersection of Arlington and Marlborough streets. It is about 40 feet tall and built from granite and marble. Architect William Robert Ware designed it, and sculptor Quincy Adams Ward created the sculpture.
The Good Samaritan and the inscriptions
At the top, a figure dressed in medieval Spanish Moorish clothing holds a sick or dying man. This scene gives the monument its other name, the Good Samaritan statue. Relief scenes and inscriptions on the four sides of the base connect the sculpture to the use of ether for pain relief.
The inscriptions include passages from the Old and New Testaments, as well as words of gratitude. A fountain is set at the base. Take time to walk around the monument to see its different panels and details.
A stop in the Public Garden
The monument sits among the statues and paths of Boston Public Garden, where you can include it in a walk through the park. The Massachusetts General Hospital, where ether was first used in this form, is about a 15-minute walk away.
Restoration was completed in 2006. Friends of the Public Gardens helps maintain the monument, and donations support its upkeep.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does the Ether Monument commemorate?
It commemorates the use of ether as an anesthetic in Boston in 1846.
How tall is the Ether Monument?
The monument is about 40 feet tall.
Where is the Ether Monument?
It is in Boston Public Garden at Arlington and Marlborough streets.
How long should I spend at the Ether Monument?
Allow about 15 to 30 minutes to view the sculpture, reliefs and inscriptions.
