28 CAiX/iXB AND FELINE SURGERY 



seconds, and is immediately followed by a local anesthesia 

 lasting from about twelve to fifteen minutes. It is not 

 suitable for hypodermic injection, or for use over any extent 

 of surface, as it is more toxic than cocaine, producing 

 s}'mptoms resembling those of strychnine. The chief advan- 

 tage which it is claimed to possess over cocaine or eucaine is 

 that local anaesthesia is produced in ophthalmic cases with- 

 out causing any intra-ocular tension or congestion of vessels 

 in the neighbourhood to which it is applied. 



Orthoform,^ a local aneesthetic which has been introduced 

 recently, is very valuable for wounds, mucous surfaces, and 

 places ^\•here the skin is abraded. From a canine surgical 

 point of view it is mainly of value in the treatment of wounds 

 that are painful, and, dissolved in collodion in the proportion 

 of I to S, as an application for hermetically sealing an 

 operation wound. For the latter purpose it is most valuable, 

 especially for the closing of such wounds as are made during 

 an abdominal operation. Before application, after the sutures 

 have been inserted, the wound is thoroughly dried and the 

 mixture painted on with a camel - hair brush. Its local 

 ana;sthetic effect is well marked, and continues for periods 

 lasting even as long as thirty-six hours ; in addition, ortho- 

 form is non-poisonous, and can be used over large abraded 

 surfaces with perfect safety. The author has used it in 

 several hundred cases as a dressing for hermetically sealing 

 operation wounds without bandaging, and in no case \vhere 

 the wound was aseptic has the animal evinced irritation or 

 attempted to interfere with the sutures ; in instances of 

 painful wounds, too, orthoform has proved equally valuable, 

 when used alone or mixed in varying proportions with starch 

 or boracic acid. 



Having thus disposed of the local, we have next to 

 consider the general anaesthetics — i.e., those which produce 



1 British Medical Journal Epitom,-, 189S, p. 79 ; Lancet, November 6 

 1897- 



