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ETHER—ANESTHESIA. 253
the inhalation of the anaesthetic agent has been rapid, the stage
of complete insensibility is preceded by a convulsive stage,
during which there is rigidity of the voluntary muscles, stertorous
breathing and lividity of the face. If the inhalation of the
agent be still further continued, the tetanic rigidity of the
muscles subsides, the lividity of the face disappears, the breathing
becomes quiet, complete muscular relaxation ensues, power of
movement is lost, as shown by the arm, when raised, dropping
without resistance, and the conjunctiva of the eye, under
mechanical irritation, being perfectly insensible to pain. During
complete anaesthesia the surface of the face is cool and bathed in
abundant perspiration ; the countenance is calm, the eyes closed
and the pupils somewhat contracted, the respiration easy and
the pulse slower. The functions of respiration and circulation
continue, all others being suspended. From such a condition
the patient will soon emerge, provided the further inhalation of
the agent be stopped; on the other hand, if the inhalation be
continued, the functions of respiration and circulation will be
suspended, and life will end with the cessation of the action of
the heart and the respiratory organs. Sudden death from the
inhalation of anaesthetic agents is due to paralysis of the cardiac
ganglia. When death occurs during the stage of rigidity and
stertorous breathing, it is due to tetanic fixation of the respiratory
muscles and obstruction of the pulmonary circulation, accumu-
lation of venous blood in the heart and the arrest of the heart's
action.
Death may also ensue by paralvsis of the respiratory muscles
during the stage of complete muscular relaxation ; also by
paralysis of the heart during complete insensibility, the motor
ganglia being paralyzed.
Death may also occur from depression of the functions and
the shock of the accident, or of the surgical operation.
Mr. Woodhouse Braine divides anaesthetics into two classes
(i) Those which produce death through the lungs as well as
through the heart; this class includes chloroform, bichloride of
methylene, dichloride of ethidene, and many others of the
chlorine series ; (2) those which produce death through the
ETHER—ANESTHESIA. 253
the inhalation of the anaesthetic agent has been rapid, the stage
of complete insensibility is preceded by a convulsive stage,
during which there is rigidity of the voluntary muscles, stertorous
breathing and lividity of the face. If the inhalation of the
agent be still further continued, the tetanic rigidity of the
muscles subsides, the lividity of the face disappears, the breathing
becomes quiet, complete muscular relaxation ensues, power of
movement is lost, as shown by the arm, when raised, dropping
without resistance, and the conjunctiva of the eye, under
mechanical irritation, being perfectly insensible to pain. During
complete anaesthesia the surface of the face is cool and bathed in
abundant perspiration ; the countenance is calm, the eyes closed
and the pupils somewhat contracted, the respiration easy and
the pulse slower. The functions of respiration and circulation
continue, all others being suspended. From such a condition
the patient will soon emerge, provided the further inhalation of
the agent be stopped; on the other hand, if the inhalation be
continued, the functions of respiration and circulation will be
suspended, and life will end with the cessation of the action of
the heart and the respiratory organs. Sudden death from the
inhalation of anaesthetic agents is due to paralysis of the cardiac
ganglia. When death occurs during the stage of rigidity and
stertorous breathing, it is due to tetanic fixation of the respiratory
muscles and obstruction of the pulmonary circulation, accumu-
lation of venous blood in the heart and the arrest of the heart's
action.
Death may also ensue by paralvsis of the respiratory muscles
during the stage of complete muscular relaxation ; also by
paralysis of the heart during complete insensibility, the motor
ganglia being paralyzed.
Death may also occur from depression of the functions and
the shock of the accident, or of the surgical operation.
Mr. Woodhouse Braine divides anaesthetics into two classes
(i) Those which produce death through the lungs as well as
through the heart; this class includes chloroform, bichloride of
methylene, dichloride of ethidene, and many others of the
chlorine series ; (2) those which produce death through the
