GENERAL ANESTHESIA. 61 



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 

 seven and a half grains, per pound of body-weight. Roucher has 

 slightly modified this method. The bowel is cleared with a soap 

 and water or glycerine enema, and a subcutaneous injection of 

 morphine in the proportion of jV.th grain of hydrochloride of morphine 

 per pound of body-weight administered, followed by an enema of one 

 drachm of chloral hydrate in linseed emulsion. If necessary the 

 dose may be repeated in seven to eight minutes ; very large dogs 

 may require a third, or even a fourth. The disadvantages are the 

 same as in the horse. Anaesthesia is slow and haemorrhage abundant. 



Richet has recommended intra-peritoneal injections of chloral 

 alone or associated with morphine. Injected into the peritoneum 

 chloral produces complete anaesthesia in about ten minutes. The 

 injection is made with a Pravaz's syringe, the greatest care being 

 taken in regard to asepsis. When well diluted, chloral is tolerated 

 by the peritoneum. Morphine added to the chloral prolongs anaes- 

 thesia to about one hour without danger of syncope. In this method 

 the doses are, hydrochloride of morphine 02 grain, chloral four grains, 

 per pound of weight. The method, however, does hot seem to have 

 proved permanently successful, dangerous complications sometimes 

 occurring. 



Frohner regards urethane as one of the best agents for the dog, 

 and has tried paraldehyde with good results. Desoubry gives from 

 2,2 to 30 grains of sulphonal to dogs of 40 lbs. body-weight, and 

 highly praises the method. 



In the dog and cat, however, the best method probably consists 

 in using chloroform after a preliminary injection of atropine and 

 morphine. The morphine modifies excitement at the commence- 

 ment of anaesthesia ; the atropine prevents cardiac syncope by 

 suspending the function of the cardiac moderating centre and of 

 the arresting fibres of the pneumogastric. The solution is prepared 

 as follows : 



Hydrochloride of morphine . . .3 grains. 

 Sulphate of atropine . . . . -3 grain. 

 Distilled water 2| fluid drachms. 



This solution is injected in the proportion of five minims per 



