760 
ROBERT ROBB. 
[Written Speciai.ly for the American Veterinary Review.] 
ADMINISTRATION OF ANAESTHETICS. 
By Robert Robb, V. S., M. D., Littleton, Iowa. 
Owing to surgery in the veterinary profession advancing so 
rapidly, it is now a question whether or not anaesthetics will be 
carried out successfully as in the medical profession. I cannot 
see why this neglected branch of veterinary medicine for oper¬ 
ations has been so slow in the past; whether it has been due to 
the lack of experience, or to the valuation of animals or environ¬ 
ments, I will not attempt to state, but merely allude to its value 
when carried out successfully, thereby advancing the principles 
of veterinary surgery to a higher degree. In the past there have 
been a great many operations neglected or put aside owing to 
the fact that it was impossible to carry out such a procedure, 
but at the present day there is such a demand for surgeons that 
one has to be on the alert, or else he will have his clients seek¬ 
ing new pastures to reap the benefits of more skilled hands. 
To give an ansesthetic is one thing, to operate is another. 
No operator pretends to carry out both at the same time unless 
it is some minor operation. To give an anaesthetic requires 
experience, skill and knowledge, and no surgeon should operate 
unless he is familiar with the dangers and contraindications of 
anaesthesia. He should not allow any one of his assistants to 
administer an anaesthetic unless he is thoroughly competent to 
administer it safely and know exactly when to give and when 
to withdraw without the surgeon interfering during the oper¬ 
ation. No anaesthetist can pay attention to his duty and watch 
an operation without endangering the life of the patient. He 
should from start to finish devote his entire attention to his 
patient, but at the same time know exactly how the operation 
is advancing, so as to meet any conditions that may arise dur¬ 
ing anaesthesia. Many an animal has passed to the other shore 
on account of the anaesthetist, his eyes being centred and his 
mind so occupied with what was being done with the knife, 
only to find out when too late that he was kneeling over a 
