240 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



roform or ether may cause death, like any other chemical 

 poison. Whenever the blood is impregnated with too lib- 

 eral quantities of the drug, its toxicity produces death. The 

 death from this cause is the one chiefly to be avoided by the 

 anaesthetist. It is caused by arrested respirations, in almost 

 every case, and is followed closely by cardiac syncope. 

 This order is seldom reversed. 



It is prevented by diluting the vapor with suflfVcient ajr, 

 and by not prolonging the anaesthetic state unnecessarily. 

 The rapid inhalation of large quantities of pure chloroform 

 vapor or its continuous administration for a long period 

 must be avoided in animals. When the accident is observed 

 the anaesthetic must immediately be taken away from the 

 nostrils and artificial respirations resorted to. In the horse, 

 the best method to force the respirations is by pushing the 

 foot firmly and deeply into the abdominal walls at inter- 

 vals of about five seconds until the movements are spon- 

 taneously afifected. The restraining ropes and all objects 

 that might restrict the free action of the movements must 

 be simultaneously removed. The tongue may be pulled 

 forward to widen the pharyngeal lumen. No time must be 

 lost in executing these manipulations. The internal or the 

 hypodermic administrations of stimulants must never pre- 

 cede them because the time lost in preparing such medi- 

 caments is too valuable. A patient that once sinks into this 

 state should not be re-anaesthetized. The subsequent steps 

 of the operation must proceed without the aid of anaesthe- 

 sia. 



In the dog and cat, toxic asphyxia is treated by artificial 

 respirations, as in the horse. The most effectual method is 

 to expand the thorax by grasping the fore limbs and pump- 

 ing them outward and inward at the rate of about one 

 movement for every two seconds until the respiratory act 

 returns. Satisfactory results can also be obtained by grasp- 



