For long centuries surgical interventions and wounds care have accompanied the mankind. Not earlier than in the half of 19th century it came to the discovery and introduction of effective and safe anaesthesia.The surgeon no more had to operate as quickly as possible to shorten the suffering of the patient. He could concentrate on the exact preparation of tissues, on the quiet discrimination of local pathology and on the realization of most appropriate therapeutic procedure. After the general acceptation of the principle of wound protection from infection and of the introduction of continuous control of general state of operated patients, the enormous development of surgical specializations was initiated.The surgical therapy is now available to patients of all age groups, starting from the first day after birth. For surgical specialities anaesthesia is of basic importance.

        Key words: anaesthesia – ether inhalational anaesthesia – healer – surgery – anaesthesiology