242 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



essary to administer a general anaesthetic. The subject 

 survived less than one minute after the sponge was applied. 

 Williams (N. Y.) reports three similar cases in draft horses. 



That the trifacial nerve is capable of conducting im- 

 pressions which may arrest the heart's action is demon- 

 strated in a case reported by Wright. A horse in apparent 

 good health was brought out of the stall for the examina- 

 tion of a trivial nail puncture, and as he resented the doc- 

 tor's manipulations a twitch was applied to the upper lip. 

 It had scarcely been tightened firmly when the horse ele- 

 vated the head, reeled backward and fell dead upon the 

 floor. Prompt examination proved the heart to be stopped. 

 Other analogous cases have been reported. 



There is absolutely no prevention nor remedy for this 

 unfortunate accident, unless the cocaine previously admin- 

 istered in two of these cases is really a causative factor. 

 The v(^riter is of the opinion that cliloroformization follow- 

 ing the subcutaneous injections of cocaine is a dangerous 

 procedure. 



Two cases of cardiac syncope in the human subject, 

 were recently revived by direct massage of the heart, one 

 through a thoracic wound which was under treatment, and 

 the other through a laparotomy in the epigastrium, made 

 through the diaphragm. The same expedient may be tried 

 in animals, but its success remains to be determined. 



3. Direct Syncope. — Unlike the preceding, this acci- 

 dent occurs during the profound stage of anaesthesia, as the 

 operation is proceeding. In most cases it is easily traced 

 to either some organic disease of the heart, or to the seri- 

 ousness of the operation being performed. It may follow 

 immediately the execution of some salient part of the pro- 

 cedure. Prolonged anaesthesia when the alimentary canal 

 is over-full,, prolonged anaesthesia in fat animals, and pro- 



