THE ADMINISTRATION OF AN.TSTHETICS 37 



When the anesthetic is administered very gradually, it is 

 often possible to cause the animal to pass into the third stage 

 without becoming in any way frenzied or excited ; one can 

 frequently succeed in quietly anesthetizing small dogs whilst 

 they are held in the arms of the owner, without being secured 

 in any way and without any struggling, the animal passing 

 tranquilly into the stage of unconsciousness. 



The first signs of the approach of the stage of safe anaes- 

 thesia are that the struggling becomes less, the efforts being 

 weaker, and the tail becomes hmp ; then the hind-quarters 



Fig. 25.— An Electrical Motor Pump for the Administration of 

 Anaesthetic Vapour (Author's Pattern). 



A, Chloroform bottle; B, pump; C, switch; D, battery; E, for con- 

 nection with the main current ; F, canine mask. 



become powerless, and ultimately the head cannot be raised. 

 When the whole body is totally limp and respirations are 

 regular the operation should be performed. Dilatation of 

 the pupil of the eye, especially in the cat, is always well 

 marked, and is by no means, as stated by some, a sign of 

 danger. To maintain the patient in this stage with safety, 

 the ansesthetic must be carefully administered in small 

 quantities from time to time at discretion, and it is a good 

 plan to release the animal from restraint as much as possible 



