Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 1/20/2007

Question
Hi,
How much diethyl ether is necessary to render a human unconscious? Is prolonged exposure necessary to keep an unconscious state?  Would it be possible to inhale enough of the vapor off of a piece of paper to feel any of the effects?  Thanks for your help!

Answer
As we don't use ether any more (and haven't since the early 60's), I have no idea how much is necessary to make someone unconcious, but continued inhalation is necessary to stay that way and the amount on a piece of paper is probably not enough to have any effect.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston