THE USE OF ANAESTHETICS IN VETERINARY PRACTICE. 761 
violently when it first smells the drug, as it is quite apt to do, 
1 turn the button, so as to admit a little fresh air, when usually 
i quieting effect is produced, then I turn the button so as to 
dose the holes. The air now being excluded as far as possi¬ 
ble, the animal soon yields to the effect of the drug, when I 
>pen and close the holes alternately during expiration and in- 
piration so as to get rid of the impure air and prevent its 
>eing inhaled repeatedly. After the desired condition of an¬ 
esthesia is reached, I turn the button so that the holes are 
)pen, and if I think the operation is going to occupy much 
ime I pour in a little more of the drug. In this way the 
>atient is getting some pure air and at the same tipie is inhal¬ 
es' the anaesthetic. With this apparatus it is not difficult to 
>oth operate and give the anaesthetic with the assistance of 
ordinary help. 
The time occupied in producing the condition of anaesthe- 
ia, and the amount of the drug used, vary with the age and 
eculiarities of the animal. Yearling and two-year-old colts 
sually require one or two ounces for short operations, such 
s castration, and the time taken to anaesthetize them is from 
ne to five minutes. Older animals usually require more of 
le drug, and cattle take more than horses. 
Two or three times I have tried to kill horses with chloro- 
)rm, and after using several ounces and taking considerable 
me, I have had to resort to other methods. I do not wish 
) be understood, however, that I claim that horses cannot 
s killed by the inhalation of chloroform ; neither do I recom- 
<iend the careless use of it, for some individuals are much 
ore susceptible than others, and we should always be on 
ur guard. 
This paper is already too long ; our object in bringing this 
ibject before you is to endeavor to stimulate a thorough 
scussion. To me it is a subject of great importance, and 
le I think that has been sadly neglected. It may be that I 
ive become a fanatic on this line, but I will say that when it 
necessary to perform painful operations, when the adminis- 
ation of an anaesthetic is impracticable, as it sometimes is, it 
a very unpleasant part of my practice; and if what I have 
