28 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY. 



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

 two patients were pugs and the other an aged fox terrier ; the 

 latter was found to be the subject of a generalised tuberculosis 

 which involved very extensively both the heart and pericardium. 

 In the case of the first pug the animal was very old and very 

 nervous, and death was due to rupture of a large abdominal 

 vessel whilst struggling in the stage of excitement. In cats 

 1 20 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 about eighty 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 

 Clinique, dogs, whose post-mortem examinations, when made 

 shortly afterwards, revealed large vegetations on the valves of 

 the heart, had taken chloroform for a prolonged period without 

 showing the slightest sign of danger. 



Preparatioij of the Patient. — It is a good plan, although by no 

 means absolutely essential, to diet the animal carefully for one or 

 two days, and to allow only a small meal about two hours pre- 

 vious to the administration of the anaesthetic. 



It is not necessary to make use, as is sometimes recom- 

 mended, of subcutaneous injections of atropine or morphia a short 

 time before anaesthetising, or to administer either ammoniacal or 

 alcoholic stimulants. In fact, from observations made in order 

 to test this point, the author is inclined to consider that when 

 morphia and atropine (or either) are previously used, the result 

 is rather to increase than diminish the risk. 



1 " Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics," Vol. VIII. , p. 287 ; Vol. XI., 

 p. 114 ; Vol. XIII., Part I. " Veterinary Record," Vol. IX., p. 284 ; Vol. X., p. 163. 



