Anesthesia causes insensitivity to pain through local or general agents. It was introduced in 1847 and the first public demonstration used ether. Anesthetics act through various cellular systems in the brain and spinal cord to depress excitability and movement. Their potency correlates with lipid solubility. Factors like concentration, flow rates, and solubility determine how fast anesthesia takes effect. Adequate depth is assessed through movement, breathing, eye signs and monitoring. Anesthetics depress breathing and the heart at doses below full unconsciousness and can cause problems if not carefully managed. They lower blood pressure and kidney function through these cardiovascular effects.