PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 237 



body is preferable. It is quite difficult to kill a dog with 

 ether if the respiratory movements are not restricted by 

 forcible or uncomfortable restraint, while, on the other 

 hand, the least pressure to the thorax or tension- on the 

 abdominal muscles may "snuiif out" the patient's existence 

 without a moment's warning. 



The anaesthetic state is maintained by replenishing the 

 supply to the sponge from time to time as required, and as 

 in the horse, the respirations are k^pt constantly under 

 surveillance. 



Small Laboratory Animals. — These subjects are best 

 anaesthetized by placing them under an inverted vessel con- 

 taining a sponge saturated with a limited amount of ether 

 or chloroform. As soon as they become unconscious the 

 vessel is removed and the anaesthesia prolonged by drop- 

 ping the anaesthetic through a cloth wrapped about the 

 head. 



HYPODERMIC ANESTHETICS are highly recom- 

 mended in canine practice in lieu of those administered ny 

 inhalation. They are depended upon alone or as auxiliaries - 

 to the inhalation-anaesthetics. For the latter purpose they 

 are administered about twenty minutes before the ether 

 or chloroform, - with- the purpose of producing a narcosis 

 that will assist the action of the inhaled anaesthetic. The 

 claim, however, that an animal previously narcotized can 

 be anaesthetized with less ether or chloroform can not be 

 proven by any series of comparative experimental tests. 

 They accept them more complacently however, and thus 

 facilitate the administration. 



The hypodermic injection of from two to even six grains 

 of morphia sulphate, often produces a very satisfactory 

 state of narcosis in the dog and cat, without any subsequent 

 inhaled anaesthetic. 



THE AN-ffiSTHETICS.— Chloroform for the horse 



