30 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY. 



Methods of Administration, Apparatus, etc. — There are two 

 chief methods of administering general anaesthetics. One is 

 known as the "open" method, and the other "administration by 

 the aid of an inhajer." 



For the " open " method, the best and safest results can be 

 attained by the aid of an ordinary wire muzzle, a thin duster, 

 and a drop bottle ; or, in place of the duster, a piece of thin 

 flannel or calico may be previously sewn around that part of the 

 patient's muzzle which covers the nostrils and lips. 



The great secret of success with chloroform is to allow plenty 

 of air, and only just a sufificiency of well diluted chloroform 

 vapour for the purpose required. The duster must on no 

 account be folded upon itself, one thickness of the cloth being 

 ample, and the anesthetic applied gradually from the drop bottle. 



The wire muzzle is useful, because it forms a framework upon 

 which to rest the duster, and protects the face from the irritant 

 effects of any chloroform which would otherwise come in con- 

 tact with the skin or eyes. For small animals an improvised 

 apparatus can be made by placing a piece of blotting paper or 

 cotton wool soaked in chloroform at the bottom of a tumbler or 

 gallipot, and holding it over the animal's nose ; or the animal 

 may be placed under a bell jar, or in an air-tight box with a 

 glass lid, into which there is placed some material soaked in the 

 anaesthetic. 



The two latter methods, however, require great care, and are 

 not very convenient for prolonged operations. 



The inhalers suitable for canine work are of three patterns, 

 varying somewhat in their construction and in the amount of 

 vapour which they give off 



The advantages of an inhaler are, that only the vapour comes 

 in contact with the patient's nostrils (there being thus no fear of 

 irritant effects), the anaesthetic is well mixed with air in tolerably 

 constant proportions before being breathed, the amount allowed 

 can be adjusted with great delicacy, and the risk of overdose is 

 thus minimised ; the quantity, too, of chloroform used is con- 

 siderably less, as the amount wasted is exceedingly small. 



