OPERATIONS 571 
ADMINISTRATION OF CHLOROFORM. 
THE USE OF CHLOROFORM to procure insensibility to pain is a great aid 
to the operator on the horse, who without it acts under great difficulties, 
owing to the nervous twitch which the poor animal gives at each touch of 
the knife. Under chloroform, however, he lies as if dead ; and as long as 
its effects continue, the most elaborate dissection may be conducted with 
comparative ease. There is some little danger of over-doing this powerful 
agent, but the risk is not so great as is generally supposed, and with 
ordinary care it is more than 1,000 to 1 that no injurious effects are 
produced. 
THE BEST AND MOST SIMPLE APPARATUS for the purpose of administering 
chloroform is a common wire muzzle, to the upper edge of which a strip 
of leather six inches deep is stitched, and so arranged that it may be 
buckled round the upper part of the jaws. This insures that all the 
air inspired shall pass through the wires, and by covering them with a cap 
of very loose flannel, in which a few holes are cut to facilitate respiration, 
the muzzle may be made ready for use. The horse is first cast, after 
which the above apparatus is put on and buckled round the jaw, when 
on sprinkling the chloroform over the cap of flannel, it may be applied or 
removed in an instant, and the amount of anesthesia regulated accordingly. 
Without some guard such as the wire affords, the chloroform runs over 
the nostrils and lips, and blisters them to a serious extent ; but when it is 
used, such an accident can only occur from over-saturating the flannel. 
The necessary quantity of this powerful agent must be employed ; but 
when once it is found that a prick of a pin or other pointed instrument is 
borne without shrinking, the flannel may be withdrawn, and the operation 
quickly commenced, taking care to have an assistant ready to put it on 
again if the horse shows signs of returning sensibility to pain. Six or 
eight ounces of chloroform must be provided, as the quantity required is 
rather uncertain, the average dose being about three or four ounces. 
IF CASTING is objected to, either from the absence of hobbles, or from 
fear of injury to the horse, a soft bed of straw should be provided, and a 
strong halter must be put over the muzzle with two cords, one of which 
should be held by a man on each side. These will serve to guide the 
horse in falling ; but it is extremely difficult to make sure of his going 
down where he is wanted to lie; and there is also considerable time lost 
in securing him after he is down, which the safety of the operator 
imperatively requires. The effect of the chloroform must therefore be 
kept up for a much longer time than if it is given after the horse is cast 
and secured. 
METHODS OF CONFINING THE HORSE. 
THERE ARE VARIOUS PLANS adopted by veterinary surgeons to bind tho 
horse’s limbs, so that he cannot injure himself or them when undergoing 
an operation. Even when chloroform is employed, some coercion of 
this kind must generally be adopted, as directed in the last section ; for 
if it is given in the standing position, the horse is very apt to 
injure himself im falling, which is often accompanied by powerful 
convulsive motions, and moreover he cannot with certainty be placed 
in a suitable position. The plan adopted by Mr. Rarey is seldom 
suitable, because it can only be employed on subjects previously taught 
