 This Pete Smith Specialty looks at the history of anesthesia. In ancient civilizations, the original anesthesia was a blow to the head. Much later, alcohol was used to dull the senses; the patient felt no pain even when he was awake. In 1799 nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, came into use. In 1839 experiments with ether proved successful. Then came the current practice of mixing oxygen with various chemical compounds.