Final answer:
The major limitation of the mentioned anesthetic agents, including diethyl ether and cyclopropane, is their flammability. Modern anesthetics are less flammable and are now preferred.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major limitation of anesthetic agents such as diethyl ether, cyclopropane, ethylene, divinyl ether, chloroform, ethyl chloride, and trichloroethylene is their flammability. Of these, diethyl ether was the most widely used for its anesthetic properties until better anesthetics were developed. Now, modern inhalant halogen-containing anesthetic compounds like halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane are preferred because they are less flammable than diethyl ether and other earlier anesthetic agents.