USES OF ANESTHESIA 307 



tbeir kennels, and dropping in cloths, sponges, or absorbent 

 material saturated with chloroform, while excluding the 

 outer air. The smaller animals can be destroyed in a 

 humane and satisfactory manner by this method. 



USES OF ANESTHESIA. 



Anaesthetics are not employed as frequently as is 

 desirable in veterinary medicine. Anaesthesia entails skilled 

 assistance, increased expense, and danger; but, on the 

 other hand, facilitates rapidity and asepsis during opera- 

 tions by lessening struggling, and should be employed to 

 relieve suffering where a local an aesthetic is impracticable. 

 The owner of an animal should be made to understand the 

 extra risk and expense attending operations under anaesthe- 

 sia, and his consent should be secured before using ether 

 or chloroform. 



The general indications for anaesthetics embrace all 

 severe, prolonged, and delicate operations. The more 

 special indications are as follows : In abdominal opera- 

 tions, as ovariotomy, herniotomy and reduction of hernia. 

 In operations for retained testicle, scirrhus cord, castration, 

 and in dystocia to cause dilatation of a rigid and otherwise 

 nndilatable os, to assist the operator in remedying faulty 

 positions of the foetus by relaxation of the parts, and to 

 facilitate instrumental delivery in bitches. Anaesthesia is 

 also indicated in removal of tumors, in arytenectomy, 

 excision of the eyeball or parts of the hoof, extraction of 

 teeth, reduction of dislocations, setting of fractures, and to 

 relieve severe pain in colic, and to overcome spasm in chorea 

 and hiccough, or convulsions due to poison or natural causes. 



Chloroform is used to destroy sick, injured or aged 

 horses, but is not so rapid, convenient, or effective as the 

 44 calibre revolver, or rifle. The bullet should be directed 

 toward a point upon 'he forehead at the intersection of two 

 imaginary lines drawn from either eye up to the root of the 

 opposite ear. 



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