Chapter I: Preface: xi

I. PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF ANÆSTHETIC DRUGS 1

II. SHOCK AND ANÆSTHESIA 5

III. ASPHYXIA OR ANOXÆMIA 15

IV. METHODS OF ANÆSTHETISING 28

V. THE CLINICAL OBSERVATION OF THE PATIENT 31

VI. THE PREPARATION OF THE PATIENT 42

VII. NITROUS OXIDE 46

VIII. NITROUS OXIDE AND OXYGEN 60

IX. ETHER 74

X. INTRATRACHEAL ETHER 96

XI. CHLOROFORM 109

XII. ETHYL CHLORIDE 122

XIII. MIXTURES OF NITROUS OXIDE AND ETHYL CHLORIDE 128

XIV. MIXTURES OF CHLOROFORM AND ETHER 134

XV. SEQUENCES 137

XVI. THE ACCIDENTS OF ANÆSTHESIA 140

XVII. THE SEQUELÆ OF ANÆSTHESIA 151

XVIII. POSTURE OF THE PATIENT 157

XIX. THE CHOICE OF THE ANÆSTHETIC 162

XX. LOCAL ANÆSTHESIA 171

XXI. SPINAL ANÆSTHESIA 193