THE ADMINISTRATION Of ANAESTHETICS 27 



the under surface of the abdomen and thighs) where the 

 skin is thin, but on the thicker parts its external use on the 

 unbroken skin is not encouraging. On the cornea of the 

 eye its effect is splendidly shown in from one to three 

 minutes. 



Eucaine hydrochlorate, when used alone, does not give 

 such good or rapid anesthetic results as cocaine, except 

 when applied to the cornea. It is, however, slightly 

 cheaper than cocaine ; a solution of it can be boiled, 

 and thus rendered sterile, without altering its anaesthetic 

 power, and the toxic dose is a little larger. When anaes- 

 thesia is produced, too, the effect lasts longer than that 

 of cocaine. A mixture of the two in equal proportions is 

 very useful, as by it can be produced the better and more 

 rapid anaesthetic effect of the cocaine, and at the same time 

 the more prolonged aneesthesia and greater security from 

 toxic symptoms which follow the use of eucaine. In order to 

 be on the safe side, tke operator shoidd never allow more than one- 

 tenth of a grain of either cocaine or eucaine for each pound of the 

 live body-weight of the patient to be absorbed into the system at 

 one time. 



These results were arrived at as the result of a large 

 number of carefully recorded observations on surgical and 

 other patients, the investigation being undertaken on account 

 of the numerous mishaps which were continually occurring 

 from the injudicious use of these drugs. ^ 



Holocaine,^' like eucaine, is a chemical preparation, and is 

 used in the form of the hydrochlorate. It is antiseptic, 

 and does not decompose on boiling. A few drops of a 

 I per cent, solution cause, when applied to the cornea, 

 a temporary burning sensation, which passes off in a few 



> Journal of Comparative Paiholoey cind Thej-apeutics, vol. viii., p. 20, 

 vol. A., p. 80. 



2 British Medical Journal Epitome, 1 898, p. 99 ; Year Book of Trent- 

 mentjor 1S98, pp. 158, 368, 454. 



