Lester Steiner, age 13, of Casper, Wyo., for his question:

WHO DISCOVERED ETHER?

Ether is a colorless, sweet smelling liquid that can be made by the action of sulfuric acid on alcohol. The material can be used as an anesthetic.

An American dentist named William Morton in 1846 was the first to announce that ether was a valuable anesthetic. But credit for first using ether goes to a doctor, Crawford Long of Georgia, who used it in operations in 1842.

Ether is considered a safer anesthetic than chloroform. It was nearly always used for major surgical operations in the United States until other anesthetics were available. Ether sometimes irritates the kidneys, however, and may cause bronchial trouble. otherwise, it is not dangerous to use, except for patients with weak hearts.

Sometimes people who have been given ether have unpleasant after effects, especially severe nausea.