TREATMENT OF ANAESTHESIA NARCOSIS 81 



obstruct entrance of air into the larynx. Savage dogs are 

 coaxed into a kennel, or covered with a packing case, and 

 pieces of cotton waste or blotting paper, saturated with the 

 drug, are then introduced. Small dogs, cats, rabbits, etc., 

 are speedily and safely anaesthetised when placed under a 

 bell jar or tin pail enclosing cotton wool saturated with 

 chloroform. In dogs the last reflex is furnished by the 

 upper incisor gum, which when irritated induces quick 

 elevation of the lower lip. This reflex is abolished in com- 

 plete anaesthesia. 



The aspect of an animal perfectly anaesthetised is that 

 of an inert body, in which movements of the thorax and 

 heart alone show that life is not yet extinct (Gurnard). 

 When anaesthesia has been pushed too far, inhalation of the 

 drug must immediately be stopped, and any impediment 

 to breathing of fresh air removed. The mouth should be 

 widely opened and the tongue pulled forward; if breathing has 

 ceased, artificial respiration must at once be adopted. In such 

 a case unless the lungs are surcharged with the anaesthetic, as 

 when it has been given in large quantity or too concentrated, 

 and for some considerable time, artificial respiration, properly 

 employed within thirty seconds after natural breathing has 

 ceased, will revive most animals in two or three minutes. 

 In the Hyderabad experiments some animals were recovered 

 fifty, but none sixty, seconds after natural breathing had 

 stopped. In narcosis occurring in ordinary practice, recov- 

 ery, however, need not be despaired of so long as cardiac 

 movements continue. Artificial respiration should be per- 

 sisted with for at least half an hour after natural breathing 

 has ceased. Insufflation of air through a tube inserted in 

 the trachea may be tried. Inhalation of amyl-nitrite, or 

 ammonia ; hypodermic injections of ether, strychnine, ad- 

 renalin solution, or hot brandy ; and the continuous galvanic 

 current, the positive pole being placed in the rectum, and 

 the negative moved rapidly over the chest wall, are recom- 

 mended in the hope of stimulating the arrested respiratory 

 movements ; and bleeding from the jugular is enjoined to 

 relieve the right heart. Hobday recommends the adminis- 

 tration of a dose of prussic acid to exert an energetic, but 

 transitory, stimulation of the respiratory centre. 



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