30 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



ansesthesia varied from a few minutes to four hours. ^ Of the 

 five fatahties, two patients were pugs, and another a very old 

 fox terrier ; the latter was found to be the subject of a general- 

 ized tuberculosis, which involved very extensively both the 

 heart and pericardium. In the case of the first pug the animal 

 was aged and very nervous, and death was due to rupture of 

 a large abdominal vessel whilst struggling in the stage of ex- 

 citement. In cats 120 consecutive cases were chloroformed 

 with three deaths — a much larger proportion. Since these 

 experiences we have used A.C.E. mixture or ether for all 

 short-nosed delicate breeds of dog and for cats, up to the 

 present, with satisfactory results in over 200 cases. 



Indications for Especial Care in the Use of General 

 Anaesthetics. — Extra care must always be exercised in very 

 young animals, those of delicate breeds, those which are 

 very fat, and those suffering from any respiratory or cardiac 

 trouble. 



Any impediment to the respiratory functions must always 

 be looked upon with especial caution ; with regard to some 

 cardiac affections, it is worth noting that, in five or six 

 instances in the Clinic, dogs whose post-mortem examina- 

 tions, when made shortly afterwards, revealed large vegeta- 

 tions on the valves of the heart, had taken chloroform for 

 a prolonged period without showing the slightest sign of 

 danger. 



Preparation of the Patient.— It is a good plan, although 

 by no means absolutely essential, to diet the animal carefully 

 for one or two da5's, and to allow only a small fluid meal 

 about four or five hours previous to the administration of the 

 anaesthetic. 



It is not necessarj' to make use, as is sometimes recom- 

 mended, of subcutaneous injections of atropine or morphia 



1 Journal of Compa7-ativc Pathology and TJierapeuHcs, vol. viii., p. 287, 

 vol. xi., p. 114, vol. xiii. ; Veterinary Record^ vol. ix., p. 284, vol. x., 

 p. 163- 



