Wednesday, the Dow surged 1,086.25 points (4.98%) to 22,878.45, the NASDAQ climbed 361.44 points (5.84%) to 6,554.36, and the S&P 500 gained 116.60 points (4.96%) to finish at 2,467.70. The Russell 2000 closed 62.89 points (4.96%) higher at 1,329.81, and the Wilshire 5000 soared 1,215.50 points (5.03%) to 25,366.93.

ON THIS DATE: In 1845, Dr. Crawford Williamson Long used anesthesia for childbirth for the first time—during the delivery of his own child in Jefferson, Georgia. In 1945, the World Bank was created with an agreement signed by 28 nations. In 1947, the children’s television program “Howdy Doody,” hosted by Bob Smith, made its debut on NBC. In 1951, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a Crosley automobile, with a steering wheel on the right side, became the first vehicle of its kind to be placed in service for mail delivery. In 2002, Clonaid announced the birth of the first cloned human baby, which had been born the day before.