326 
APPARATUS FOR THE VAPOUR OF .ETHER. 
power of motion.” In man, the mind does become affected ; per- 
ception of things external is clear, but the ideas or perceptions of 
the mind are not. Hence we see patients perceiving objects right, 
reasoning wrong, and drawing wrong conclusions from them; while 
in all cases, in men and horses, memory of the sense of pain (evi- 
dently shewn to a degree) is obliterated ; and as for motion, no- 
thing short of coma suspends that function. 
Air, being made the vehicle for conveying sether into the lungs, 
does not in any way deteriorate its qualities, and its exclusion, in 
the case beforementioned, terminated in ruptured diaphragnrr; 
while the black condition of the blood was caused by the absence 
of oxygen, and the circulation of impure carbonized blood through 
the system. 
From what I have seen of the effects of sether, it appears to me 
to be most decidedly and powerfully sedative. In all the cases in 
which I tried it the horses were vicious or restive, and would not 
let ropes or hobbles come near them for the purpose of operating ; 
and the sedative effect on all was the same. The time I allow for 
producing the effect requisite for any operation, or as a means of 
getting the ordinary modes of restraint on vicious horses, is four to 
seven minutes ; the quantity of sether, seven to eight ounces. It 
is a mistake to delay operating until the animal is ready to fall ; 
you may commence much sooner. As soon as the pupils dilate, 
and the respirations become slow and long drawn, is the time to 
commence : the inhaler remaining on. 
In company with Mr. Poett, Y.S. 1st Royal Dragoons, I tried 
the inhaler, at Cork Barracks, on a troop horse in his regiment 
that would not allow himself to be shod, neither could he be got 
near the forge. An officer’s groom was the only person who could 
get near the horse’s feet; he learned to fit the shoes, while the far- 
rier came behind and nailed them on, the groom holding up his leg. 
The apparatus was fixed with great difficulty; and while the horse 
(who reared) was fixed in the rack, being got loose, in seven mi- 
nutes he was led out of the stable apparently unconscious, and 
walked to the forge ; when the farriers, one by one, lifted the feet, 
hammered the shoes, &c. 
This case shews that the perception of external objects did not 
convey the right idea to the mind of the horse, or he would not 
have walked to the forge ; neither did the action of the aether de- 
stroy the power of motion, although it did nearly that of sensa- 
tion. The inhaler was removed, the horse beginning to stagger, 
and it being feared he would fall on the hard floor. On being led 
out and walked across the barrack-yard, he obstinately refused to 
go near the forge, and was as determined as ever to smash the first 
farrier that came near him. 
I shewed the inhaler to Mr. Williams, partner of Mr. Weiss, 
