374 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
Prevention of Shock. —When this form of anesthesia is 
used, shock is absent unless there is excessive hemorrhage or 
unless too much ether or chloroform is used. x Much of what has 
been called “ shock ” in the past was the result of an excessive 
amount of chloroform and, in less degree, ether. 
Freedom from Fear. —A most prominent advantage of this 
form of anesthesia is the absence of fear or dread of the opera¬ 
tion room. 
No Anesthetist Essential. —A most decided advantage of 
this form of anesthesia, and especially of true hyoscine-morphine- 
cactin (H-M-C, Abbott), supplemented by a local anesthetic 
(Abbott’s Anesthaine preferred) when needed, is that a surgeon 
may perform many operations without the assistance of another 
doctor. The importance of this in country practice can hardly 
be overestimated. Curettage of the uterus, repair of cervix, re¬ 
pair of perineum, forceps delivery, operation for strangulated 
(hernia, for appendicitis, reduction of fractures, etc., may be done 
with this agent, plus a local anesthetic. 
Economy. —To hospitals, and to many doctors, the cost of 
ether or even of chloroform is something of more than passing 
interest. In hospitals, where many operations are performed, the 
use of even one tablet an hour or so before the patient is taken 
to the operation room will reduce the anesthetic bill of the insti¬ 
tution one-half or more. 
Lessening Labor. —To the nurse this form of anesthesia is 
a God-send. The relief is not only physical, but mental; no 
anxiety about post-operative pain, vomiting, restlessness, fear 
and thirst of the patient—all this means much to the conscien¬ 
tious hospital nurse; and the patient who has had both forms of 
anesthesia can never again be induced to submit to chloroform 
or ether. 
No Interference with Peristalsis. —There is but little, 
if any, interference with bowel movement. An enema in twenty- 
four hours usually suffices and even that may not be necessary, 
for not infrequently there is natural evacuation within the first 
day, unaided. 
Long Anesthesia. —The analgesia continues for many 
hours. This is of distinct advantage in prolonged, tedious opera¬ 
tions. To know that the patient is not being carried to the brink 
of the grave by too much chloroform or ether is an immeasur¬ 
able comfort to the operator who has to use a long time in his 
work. 
