Anaesthetics used in experiments on animals / issued by The Research Defence Society.

  • Research Defence Society (Great Britain)
Date:
[1908?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Anaesthetics used in experiments on animals / issued by The Research Defence Society. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    2/16 (page 36)
    certificate A, but certificate B. But local ana3«t]iesia is not applicable to, and has never been employed in, experiments involving any sort of operation. (2) Morphia and chloral and urethane and similar drugs, to produce anaesthesia, must be given, and ar.e given, in large doses. “The question of complete aii£esthesia,” says Dr. Starling, Professor of Physiology at University College, “ will in each case be a question of the dose, whether you are dealing with chloroform or whether you are dealing with morphia. Morphia is a complete anaesthetic if it is given in large enough doses.” Not a month passes in this country without some person killing himself or herself with morphia or chloral. They die profoundly anaesthetised; they cannot be roused, or, if they outlast the morphia and recover, they remember nothing or next to nothing. “ My experience in this matter,” says Prof. Starling, “ would show that, after opium poisoning, if the patients have been saved, they are not conscious of the very strong shocks they have been given in order to try and hurt them while in that state of poisoning.” For the use of morphia and of chloral in experiments on animals, we have the following evidence given to the Commission:— Mr. Thane (Government Inspector).—Q. May I ask whether morphia is sometimes used on dogs as an anaesthetic, without chloroform or ether ? A. Morphia is very rarely used as an anaesthetic alone, that is quite certain. Q. You think that morphia could be adminis- tered so as to secure complete anaesthesia ? A Morphia can be administered so as to secure complete anaesthesia ; there is no question about it, but you probably would have to give a fatal dose. Q. You think that chloral and urethane would be effective ? A. 1 am quite sure