756 G. W. BUTLER. 
as in the ligating of large arteries, chloroform is to be pre¬ 
ferred. Chloroform is also preferable when an anaesthetic is 
required to be frequently exhibited to the same individual, 
man or animal, the class felides excepted. 
Where degenerative disease of the heart or kidneys exists, 
or both (as they are associated and interdependent more often 
than is commonly supposed), provided there is no serious 
pulmonary complications, ether, should by long odds, obtain 
the preference. When pulmonary disease exists, without 
renal or cardiac complication the morbid condition becomes, 
per se, an element of safety in the administration of chloroform, 
while it inhibits the employment of ether. 
When death is caused by the administration of an anaes¬ 
thetic in too great a quantity, it is generally due, especially 
in the lower animals, to respiratory arrest, but that death is 
sometimes caused by cardiac paralysis, especially in the dog, 
following the use of chloroform, there is no doubt. 
Unger discovered that animals, especially canines, chloro¬ 
formed for several hours at a time and upon successive days, 
showed upon autopsy undoubtable evidence of fatty degen¬ 
eration of the (i) heart, (2) kidneys and muscular structure, 
and (3) gastric and mucous membranes generally. 
Strassman, as a result of independent experiments, corrob¬ 
orates Unger, and sums up his researches as follows: 
“ 1st.—After chloroforming in dogs, there can be demon¬ 
strated a fatty metamorphosis of the liver; the heart may 
partake of the same changes as a secondary result; other 
organs are seldom affected. The changes consist of true 
fatty degeneration, and not of fatty infiltration. 
“2d.—Subsequently to the usual chloroform narcosis, and 
when recovery therefrom has apparently taken place, a fatal 
result is occasionally observed to occur. 
“ 3^-—Inasmuch as in the fatal cases the heart changes 
were found to be particularly well marked, these latter may 
reasonably be assumed to have been the cause of death. 
“4th,—In non-fatal cases, the evidence of degeneration 
changes are not found after several weeks. 
“ 5 th.—These changes are particularly prone to occur. In 
