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ETHER—CHLOROFORM. 411

operator, graduating it to the requirements of the

case.
During the administration, the patient should be in
a reclining posture; though it is held, by much good
authority, that a horizontal position is the safest,
because, in that, the force of the circulation is most
nearly equalized. In the administration of general
anaesthetics, the circulation is always more or less
affected. It is an opinion very generally received,

and probably correct, that, where there is functional
derangement of the heart, lungs, or brain, general
anaesthesia should not be employed. This opinion,
however, is perhaps derived more from analogy than
from actual observation. It is true that, other things
being equal, the liability to injury in such case would
be greater; but the danger with both ether and chlo-
roform is, that there are cases in which there is an
undefinable and undetectable idiosyncracy, or malsus-
ceptibility of its influence, to a great extent indepen-

dent of pathological conditions.
The patient having been placed in a comfortable
position, and his mind freed as far as possible from
apprehension, he should be directed to breathe tran-
quilly by full inspirations, carefully guarding against
any compression of the chest, so as to allow the re-
spiratory muscles free play. During the administra-
tion of the anesthetic, a strict watch must be main-