CHAPTER XXXYIIL 



ANESTHESIA. 



AN/ESTHESIA, or deprivation of sensibility, is of two kinds — 

 general and local, — is obtained by various means, and is used to 

 relieve suffering when animals are in pain, or when they are 

 about to undergo some painful operation. 



General anaesthesia is usually produced by causing the patient 

 to inhale chloroform, ether, or a combination of these, also by 

 the subcutaneous injection of morphia or 

 atropia ; or by the administration, as a drench, 

 of laudanum, chloral hydrate, &c. ; but I prefer 

 the inhalation of chloroform, or a combination 

 of that with sulphuric ether. 



As a rule it is necessary to cast the animal 

 before administering the anesthetic, but in 

 some it may be administered whilst the animals 

 are standing ; and in old animals, which have 

 stiff backs or suspected anchylosis of the verte- 

 brae, I strongly recommend the administration 

 of the drug in the standing position, and as a 

 consequence the animal sinks naturally to the 

 ground. Care must, however, be taken that 

 there are several assistants at hand, so as to 

 prevent the animal from injuring itself during 

 the excitement from the first action of the 

 anaesthetic. 



If Carlisle's muzzle — an apparatus I can 

 highly reccmmend (see Fig. 116) — is made use 

 of, about two ounces of the antesthetic will 

 generally suffice. 



Local anaesthesia is produced by the application to the part 

 of cocaine, morphia, or atropia; or by the subcutaneous in- 

 jection of cocaine, morphia, or atropia, by the long-continued 



Fig. 116. 

 Carlisle's muzzle. 



