Anaesthetic

(an-es-thet’-ik) [dp priv.; at odrjcia, feeling]. I. Without feeling;insensible to touch or pain. 2. A substance that produces insensibility to touch or to pain, diminished muscular action, and other phenomena. Anesthetics may be general, local, partial, and complete. A., General; the following are the substances that have been used for general anesthesia: Amylene, C5H10 {Pental), a thin, colorle , translucent liquid; action rapid, producing partial anesthesia. It should not be brought d near a flame. Carbon Tetra chlorid, not so irritating to the organs of respiration, but far more dangerous than chloroform. Chloral Hydrate, action indirect and incomplete, and rarely, if ever, now used. Chloroform, by inhalation. Largely employed in general surgery. It seems to have a selective action upon the nervous system, and also exercises a direct influence upon the muscular ti ues of the heart. It paralyzes the vasomotor system, and death results from cardiac paralysis. Chloroform should always be administered freely mixed with air. The Lister Method, also known as the Scotch ox Open Method ot administering chloroform, consists in pouring a small amount of the anesthetic upon a common towel arranged in a square of six folds, and holding this as near to the face as can be borne without inconvenience. Ethene Chlorid, formerly called ethylene chlorid, Dutch liquid, chloric ether, closely resembles chloroform, but is le depre ant to the heart, and is considered safer than chloroform. Death results from paralysis of the respiratory centers. Ether, by inhalation, is probably the safest known agent for the production of prolonged narcosis. Its action is directed largely to the nervous system, which becomes profoundly affected. It frequently causes spasmodic action and suspension of respiration. Death results from paralysis of respiration. It may be administered alone or in combination with nitrous oxid gas, in which case the patient is more rapidly narcotized. Ethidene Chlorid is similar in its action to chloroform. Patients take a longer time to recover consciousne than when chloroform is used, but they experience fewer after-effects. Anesthetization occurs in from 3 to 5 minute ch051.xhtml h 58