MENTAL FUNCTION 427 



In reality it is rather the memory of their presence and nature which 

 fades as the effect of the anesthetic deepens into the deep subconscious- 

 ness of surgical anesthesia. Doubtless these two (" unconsciousness" 

 and entire loss of memory of consciousness) are the same so far as the 

 future recall of the experience is concerned. The reports of anesthesias 

 strengthen the presumption long ago made that it is the break in memory 

 which is the critical phenomenon of all conditions commonly called 

 unconscious rather than that any condition of real " unconsciousness" 

 can exist during "life." 1 



The physical basis of the action of anesthetics is still obscure. Lately 

 it has been suggested, however, that the general anesthetics are substances 

 which dissolve fats, and the fatty substances cholesterin, lecithin, etc., 

 are probably constituents of every cell-wall. Perhaps the circulating 

 ether or chloroform dissolves some of these complex substances out of 

 the guarding envelope of nerve-cells and nerve-fibers, and thus by dis- 

 turbing its osmotic interchange alters their metabolism enough to destroy 

 their conductivity and so the fusing unification on which attentive con- 

 sciousness in some way depends. 



For the bodily changes made by general anesthetics the reader is 

 referred to treatises on general and dental surgery. 



1 Accounts of experiences during general anesthesia are sought by the author, 

 and questionaire-blanks for this purpose will be promptly mailed on application 

 to him. 



