56 SPECIAL VETERINARY THERAPY 



The advantages of this method of anesthetizing 

 are many. No attention need be given the patient 

 after making the injection, therefore no assistant is 

 required for this part of the operation. No shock 

 follows even the most prolonged and extensive opera- 

 tive interference under this anesthesia; there is no 

 post-operative nausea and the animal requires no 

 watching as is the case when it is reviving from pro- 

 found chloroform anesthesia. 



The technic is simple, the point of greatest im- 

 portance being cleanliness. 



For a dog weighing twenty-five pounds one ounce 

 of a one per cent solution of stovaine is sufficient. 

 The solution should be sterile and used at blood heat, 

 a little more than luke warm. Half an ounce is in- 

 jected into the peritoneal cavity on each side of the 

 median line, making the needle enter just in front of 

 the brim of the pelvis near the fold in the flank. The 

 abdominal muscles are most favorable for puncture 

 at that point. A very fine needle and ordinary hypo- 

 dermic syringe can be used. A little practice makes 

 it possible to determine without much difficulty when 

 the needle enters free in the abdominal cavity. The 

 solution must not enter an intestine or other organ 

 but must be placed within the peritoneal cavity. 



As soon as the injection is completed the dog is 

 turned flat on his back and forced to remain in this 

 position by hobbles or other means. In fifteen min- 

 utes the operating can begin. 



If it is desired to anesthetize the skin only for the 

 primary incision, an ethyl chloride spray may be used. 



