GENERAL ANAESTHESIA. 59 



As, however, in the event of operation faiHng oxen may afterwards 

 require to be slaughtered, alcohol is usually preferred to any sub- 

 stance which might taint the flesh. Most practitioners give a 

 large dose of alcohol or rum ; in the case of oxen, one to two 

 pints. In five to ten minutes the action begins, and as intoxication 

 proceeds the muscles relax. 



AncEsthesia of the Dog and Cat. 



Ether or Chloroform may be used ; the latter is preferable. 

 Respiration may take place by either the mouth or nose, but it is 

 dangerous to forcibly close the jaws, especially by muzzling the 

 animal with tape. Guinard lays special stress on the need for keeping 

 the dog's mouth open while giving chloroform ; given by the nose 

 alone chloroform is apt to produce so active a stimulation of the vagus 

 as sometimes to inhibit the heart's action. 



The dog is placed on its chest or side, the jaws opened, 

 or fixed in an open position by a gag. Chloroform can be 

 given by applying to the animal's nostrils a pad of tow or a 

 small sponge moistened with chloroform. Another method is to 

 form a cone of stout brown or blotting paper, at the bottom of 

 which is placed a small loose ball of cotton wool to receive 

 the chloroform. A conical muzzle, like Krohne's for human use, 

 or an ordinary Junker's inhaler is probably the most convenient 

 apparatus, though necessarily more costly than the paper cone. 

 Whatever the method adopted, administration should always be slow. 



Ether is given in a similar way, but the excitation period is 

 longer, and the slumber produced less deep. On the other hand, ether 

 anaesthesia may be prolonged for considerable periods without danger. 



Hueppe claims to have produced anaesthesia in dogs b}^ injecting 

 2\ drachms of ether into the external ear. 



To obtain more rapid narcosis, and diminish danger of collapse, 

 morphine has been recommended in combination with ether or 

 chloroform. Moller first injects from three quarters to one and a half 

 grains of hydrochloride of morphine hypodermically, and after a short 

 interval gives ether in the usual way. 



Cagny administers ether vapour by the rectal mucous membrane. 

 Its action, however, is uncertain, and it sometimes causes violent 

 straining. 



As in the horse, intra-venous injection of chloral is dangerous. 



Morphine in the form of subcutaneous injection, and chloral in 

 enema, have been advantageously combined. The dose of morphine 

 is at the rate of two minims of a 2 per cent, solution, and of chloral 



