Sentence:  Many a time has the vapor of ether been inhaled for the relief of oppressed lungs; many a time has the sought relief been thus obtained; and just so many times has the discovery of the wonderful <WSD>anodyne</WSD> properties of this gas, as affecting all bodily suffering, been brushed past and overlooked. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  capable of soothing or eliminating pain (from 16th c.)