COMPARISON OF ETHER WITH CHLOROFORM
| Ether. | Chloroform. |
|---|---|
| More diffusible. | Less diffusible; vapor heavier. |
| Inflammable and explosive. | Not inflammable, but vapor decomposes when exposed to a light and causes irritation and some times death. |
| Stimulant to heart, except in enormous quantities. | Depresses powerfully the heart respiratory and vaso-motor centers in large doses. |
| Irritating (due to exclusion of air), may induce bronchitis and nephritis. | Less irritating (on account of more air being required for dilution.) |
| Respiratory centers not so easily or suddenly depressed as by chloroform. | Three to five times more dangerous (deaths) than ether. |
| Larger quantities required. | Smaller quantities required. |
| Less rapid. | Acts quickly. |
| More expensive. | Cheaper. |
| Kills by respiratory failure. | Death from respiratory failure, combined with cardiac depression. |
Consequently you can see considering both drugs to be properly administered, all the advantages are in favor of chloroform except safety.
Ether is to be preferred for dogs, cats and other small animals.
Chloroform is especially dangerous for dogs, though horses stand it exceptionally well and it is preferable to ether in large animals. The safety with which chloroform may be administered to large animals frequently makes veterinarians careless; that is, they “force” the drug; they do not allow sufficient air for dilution, and though the patients may not die from the immediate effects of the drug their existence may be terminated in a few days from pneumonia or broncho-pneumonia (mechanical), due to the irritating effects of the drug.
Anaesthesia.—It is best to cast the large animals; after complete anaesthesia remove the hobbles.
For dogs make a cone of a towel and paper, put a sponge in the bottom, allowing a small opening in the end to admit air; pour in ether a little at a time.
In brain diseases or tumors of the brain, chloroform is dangerous. Horses with heaves or emphysema should not take chloroform; it is also dangerous in fatty degeneration of the heart. Operations during incomplete anaesthesia, especially with chloroform, are dangerous; always produce complete anaesthesia, have the stomach empty, but don’t fast animals for more than two or three meals.
Things to remember when administering an anaesthetic:
The operator must be skilled and give his attention exclusively to the production of anaesthesia, watching the respiration and pulse for signs of failure.
Do not commence operation until anaesthesia is profound, until reflex action is abolished, which can be told by touching the eye with the finger; obey this, no matter how slight the operation. The utmost care should be exercised if the patient is very old or has fatty degeneration of the heart, or lung diseases.
Great care should be exercised in operations about the mouth or trachea. See that no blood passes down the trachea. The stomach and bowels should be empty. This will cause less nausea and feed may be regurgitated and run down the trachea.
When purchasing chloroform or ether for anaesthetic purposes insist on the best; it must be pure.
Ether can be used almost pure, only a little air being necessarily allowed for dilution; chloroform must have a large amount of air.
In all classes of patients the head should be slightly raised, and watch the tongue so that it does not fall back over the larynx and suffocate the animal.
Anaesthesia should be started very slowly; don’t force either chloroform or ether.
It is a good practice to have restoratives ready for use before commencing anaesthesia, as aqua ammonia fort., a hypodermic syringe and nitro-glycerin.