The South African Society of Anaesthetists, 1943-1993

There is no shortage of histories of the beginnings of anaesthesia in the 19th century. However, the real roots of present-day anaesthesia lie in the period 1930 - 1970. This article is a summary of the nearly complete history, Five Decades, launched in March 1993, and pays homage to those who did so much to shape contemporary anaesthesia in South Africa.