56 ANESTHESIA IN THE DOG AND CAT. 



In general the above also applies to swine, and chloroform would 

 probably prove the best material ; Negotin found it harmless. 



Harms succeeded in abolishing sensibility to pin-pricks in ten 

 minutes by giving benzine vapour. Chloral hydrate is often given 

 to cows when calving, in order to dull labour pains ; complete anaes- 

 thesia is seldom necessary. 



As, however, in the event of operation failing oxen may after- 

 wards require to be slaughtered, alcohol is usually preferred to any 

 substance which might taint the flesh. Most practitioners give a 

 large dose of whisky 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. 



ANESTHESIA IN 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 to sometimes 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, ad- 

 ministration 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 by injecting 

 2\ drachms of ether into the external ear. 



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

 morphine has been recommended hi combination with ether or chloro- 

 form. 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. 



