PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 233 



ing the chest heavily upon it as the sheet is gathered up 

 and held. Instantly the struggles begin, but being ex- 

 pected they are met with forcible efforts to prevent dis- 

 turbing the apparatus. The anaesthetist keeps "on the of- 

 fensive" as long as the struggling continues, and until the 

 subject is forced to take the first deep breath, which is 

 usually about two minutes. Sometimes it is four minutes 

 and sometime six minutes, but seldom longer. The first 

 deep breath is accompanied with a somewhat marked re- 

 laxation of the muscular system. The struggles are less 

 violent. From this point the hold is released, and more air 

 is allowed to accompany the anaesthetic vapor, during 

 seven to fifteen inspirations, which consume about another 

 minute. When the respirations become soft, and shallow, 

 the sheet is spread out and the sponge is placed on but one 

 nostril throughout the remainder of the process. The soft 

 respirations mark the beginning of the surgical stage. The 

 subsequent duty of the anaesthetist is to administer the 

 anaesthetic in limited quantities through. the uppermost nos- 

 tril, allowing the undermost one to freely admit air. A 

 very satisfactory method of administration after the patient 

 is once anaesthetized is by dropping the anaesthetic through 

 a muslin cloth laid over the uppermost nostril. It is given 

 drop by drop continuously, and is only withheld when there 

 is evidence of a too profound state. This is preferable to 

 the use of the large. sponge, which is necessary only to hold 

 the large quantity of the anaesthetic required to produce 

 rapid anaesthesia at the beginning of the administration. 

 The anaesthesia is produced rapidly by rapid administration 

 with a large sponge and is continued by the "drop by drop" 

 method through a muslin cloth. 



The anaesthetist must never divert his attention from his 

 work, and must take no part in the operation, if the killing 

 of a large percentage of anaesthetized patients is to be 



