76 MEANS OF BESTEAINT. 



circulatory and respiratory apparatuses, and the manner in which 

 their functions are executed, by noticing the heart-beat and watch- 

 ing the pulse and the movements of respiration at the flanks, are 

 other points of importance. 



Another point is the need of bearing in mind that an animal 

 submitted several days in succession to general anesthesia be- 

 comes more and more susceptible to its effects, and therefore 

 more exposed to the dangers they imply. 



ACCIDENTS INCIDENTAL TO THE USE OP MEANS 

 OF EESTEAINT. 



We have already considered some of the accidents which are 

 likely to interfere with the successful apphcation of the means of 

 restraint, aaid especially with reference to the final act of the pre- 

 liminary series which occur at the moment of throwing the animal 

 and depositing him on his bed, particularly such as may follow 

 the neglect of properly protecting the head with the cap or 

 blinkers, or by an imnecessarily prolonged use of the twitch, or 

 from the sudden and violent movements of the animal himself. 

 These can usually be obviated by proper forethought and watch- 

 fulness. But the most careful attention cannot always assure 

 immunity from miscarriage and casualties. Thus, a common mis- 

 hap, and one which cannot be anticipated nor prevented, is the 

 sudden and heavy fall of the animal just as his equilibrium is lost. 

 The lesions which may foUow this casualty may have their seat 

 either in the hard or soft structures, and are of the most serious 

 character, not only including, at times, fractures and dislocations, 

 and lacerations of the soft tissues, including the muscles, but may 

 affect the viscera, and even the blood vessels and the nerves — in 

 this last case involving the parts in all the evils of local paralysis 

 and its disabilities. 



(a) Fbactuees. 



This form of injury may have its seat in the vertebral column, 

 the ribs, and the bones of the extremities. 



1st. Fractures of the Vertebral Column.— In the list of frac- 

 tures, those of this region of the body are the most frequent. 

 The numerous reports of cases which are made public by veterin- 

 ary writers furnish sufficient evidence of the facihty and frequency 

 of their occurrence, even when the most careful attention has been 



