CHAPTER XXXVni. 



(an.e.^thesia. 



Ay^STHESlA., or <lepnvation of sensibility,"*'i§ 6f'«'lwo'^mcIs— 

 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 combiuatiori 

 of that with sulphuric ether. 



As a rule it is necessary to cast the animal 

 'before administering the aniesthetic, but in 

 some it may be administered whilst the anim-^ls 

 are standing ; and in old animals, which have 

 stiff backs or suspected anchylosis of the verte- 

 brae, 1 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 

 anresthetir. 



If CarlisU's muzzle — an apparatus I can 

 highly recommend (see Fig. l-iO) — is made use 

 of, about iMo ounces of the ana.'stlietic will 

 generally sufhce. 



Local anacstliesia is produced by the application to the part 

 cf cocjune, morphia, or atropia ; or by the subcutaneous in- 

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



Fig. ho. 

 Cai'hcle'ii muzzle. 



