Dose.—Dogs, 2 dr. to 1 oz.; cats, 1⁄2 to 1 dr.
Actions.—Chloroform is a topical irritant, antiseptic, parasiticide, carminative, antispasmodic and analgesic. Full doses quickly and powerfully paralyze the cerebro-spinal nervous system; chloroform kills by paralyzing the heart and respiration; the latter effects are most rapidly produced when the drug is inhaled. Chloroform is the general anaesthetic most used for veterinary purposes except for dogs.
Externally it is rubefacient if confined or even suppurant. It also acts as a refrigerant, anodyne and local anaesthetic if not confined. It penetrates the skin very readily and on this account is commonly used in liniments to aid in the absorption of other medicines.
Chloroform compared to ether is much more irritating to the mucous membrane, and causes violent gastro-enteritis, if swallowed undiluted; it is less stimulating and more depressing to the heart and circulation. For inhalation it requires much more air; is less irritant to the air passages than ether; is uninflammable, more pleasant, more prompt in action, has a shorter stage of excitement, causes a more profound narcosis, and is not so nauseating as ether and is cheaper. Statistics show it to be five times more fatal than ether.
The results of various experiments show that chloroform and ether both act in the same manner upon the heart and respiration, paralyzing the latter first; but chloroform acts much more quickly and powerfully than ether in both directions. But when chloroform is inhaled in a concentrated form it generally paralyzes the heart first.
Uses.—Chloroform should be used as an aid in painful and prolonged cases of parturition, especially where you have tumultuous contraction of the uterus, or rigid contraction of the os. Use just enough by inhalation to dull the pain and relax the parts; it will aid you in your efforts to rectify abnormal presentations by relaxing the parts.
Internally it is used in spasmodic and flatulent colic as it is an antispasmodic carminative and anodyne in its effects; chloroform combined with belladonna and opium is very beneficial in spasmodic coughs, given in linseed gruel or water, well diluted; in liniments about one or two ounces to the pint. Chloroform is used in chronic diarrhoea with other medicines, such as morphine, capsicum, camphor, oil of peppermint and ether. It is also a good taeniacide.
ANESTHESIA
Anesthesia is divided into three stages; the stimulant, anaesthetic and paralytic.
In the first stage there is struggling and excitement, due partly to the action of the drug and partly to fright. The local irritant action of the vapor causes choking and coughing, which also induces struggling.