In 1944, the Phantom Anesthetist of Mattoon, Illinois, sparked widespread panic during World War II as residents reported mysterious gas attacks. Similar to the earlier Mad Gasser incidents, this phenomenon involved unverified claims of a gas attacker, leading to fear and hysteria in the community. The lack of evidence for these attacks has led historians to explore themes of mass panic and social anxiety during wartime, reflecting the psychological impacts of conflict on civilian populations.

The Phantom Anesthetist of Mattoon in 1944 contributed to American literature by evoking themes of wartime paranoia and collective fear. Poets like Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath explored these anxieties in their works, reflecting the psychological impact of war on society.