234 PRINCIPLEa OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



avoided. He must direct his attention incessantly upon :— 

 (i) The condition of the respirations; (2) the condition of 

 the reflexes as indicated by the cornea; and (3) the condi- 

 tion of the circulatory apparatus. 



1. The respirations, although slow, shallow and soft, 

 with the exhalations often imperceptible, should be regular 

 at all times in normal anaesthesia. The respiratory move- 

 ments should be well divided between thoracic and abdomi- 

 nal. Pronounced abdominal breathing is unfavorable, es- 

 pecially when the act is jerky and somewhat irregular. The 

 movements of the nostrils, although slight in profound 

 aneesthesia must never be absent. The constant inspection 

 of the respiratory movements is the anaesthetist's .most seri- 

 ous duty, for it is here that the first sign of a fatal terjnina- 

 tion will appear in great majority of cases. Chloroform 

 or ether poisoning — the administration of too much un- 

 diluted vapor — reflects first upon the respiration, and if 

 the very first sign of apnoea is noticed, there is generally 

 ample time to successfully revive the patient; in fact, the 

 simple act of removing the anaesthetic apparatus is often 

 sufficient to resuscitate the arrested function, but if in a 

 moment the movements do not begin artificial respirations 

 will gradually prove successful. There is very little dan- 

 ger of fatal chloroform intoxication if the state of the resr 

 pirations is carefully guarded. 



2. The condition of the reflexes as indicated by the 

 cornea. The state of the sensibility (reflexes) is always 

 well indicated, both by the touch to the cornea and by the 

 resistance provoked by the surgical pain. If the patient 

 is struggling against the surgeon's knife, the cornea will 

 be found sensitive, while on the other hand, if the cornea 

 does not respond to the touch, the operator may proceed 

 without molestation. The cornea indicates the state of 

 anaesthesia perfectly, but it is no indicator of the condition 



