764 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
time the veterinarian who neglects to immunize a patient that 
contracts a punctured wound will be called to account for the 
omission should tetanus result. The cost, which is already 
nominal, will be greatly reduced when it comes into more 
general use.—(Z. A. M.) 
Will the sub-arachnoidean injection of cocaine , which the 
human surgeons are rapidly adopting to produce anaesthesia 
(analgesia more properly speaking) of the abdomen and lower 
extremities, ever be introduced into veterinary surgery ? Ac¬ 
cording to recent reports from such eminent clinicians as Murphy 
and Senn,-it is very evident that general anaesthesia with chloro¬ 
form and ether, for all abdominal, pelvic and lower extremity 
operations, will soon be universally supplanted by the injection 
of a weak solution of cocaine upon the sensory columns of the 
lumbar cord. The effect which occurs shortly after the injec¬ 
tion and lasts for more than an hour is that of complete suspen¬ 
sion of sensibility, while the tactile sense and motion remain un¬ 
altered. The patient suffers from none of the unpleasant nor 
dangerous effects of ether and chloroform, feels no pain, and 
rapidly recovers the suspended sensibility. Certain salient 
points in the technique of its application may forever preclude 
its introduction into veterinary surgery, yet in view of its many 
indications we should try to overcome the obstacles. A pre¬ 
requisite of the procedure is that the fluid be injected beneath the 
arachnoid membrane. Whether we will ever be able to accom¬ 
plish this delicate feat is a matter for future discussion.— (L. 
A. M.) v 
The death of Professor Williams, principal of the New Vet¬ 
erinary College, Edinburgh, which occurred November 12th, 
following a brief illness, is a serious loss to the profession. His 
untiring efforts directed to the interest, emergencies and ad¬ 
vancement of the veterinary profession, contributed much to 
his fame ; his works on veterinary topics have made him a last¬ 
ing reputation ; and, we regret that one so useful to our cause, 
and so efficient in directing his energies, should sever his 
eaithly relations while still in the acme of his devotion. As 
veterinary science progresses, his effort may be buried in the 
debris of other energies employed in the same direction ; but, 
in obedience to a natural consequence, it will always be to the 
profession, u The principal stone of the corner,” and the 
efforts of others will remain to be but individual marks of 
the craft inscribed upon the surface.— (E. Mi) 
