Kombuispraat

Lionel Stretton schreef:Notes of a Case
The Death of a Horse 15th November 1901

Miranda, a dark brown mare two years old, well bred, highly nervous but in excellent condition suffering from two large suppurating lumps over the elbows. The anaesthetic was commenced at about 3pm in September after she had been hobbled and drawn down In the usual way. She had been prepared by being given a bran mash the night before, and a meal of bran and chaff at 8am that day - that being her last meal.

The chloroform was given in the following manner - a towel was laid on the ground under the animal's head and soaked in chloroform, and this was placed over the nose and mouth. A second towel was folded over this. When more chloroform was required it was poured over the inner towel, enough to soak it once again. It was not for me to question the methods employed, but I must say that it struck me at the time that if I attempted to administer chloroform to a human being in such a manner we should be courting disaster. She inhaled the chloroform quite quietly. There was no struggling, and the respirations were long and deep. I had just removed the first lump, and was preparing to sew up the wound, when the vet informed me that she had stopped breathing. All our efforts – artificial respiration, strong ammonia etc. were unavailing. The time from commencement of inhalation was about ten minutes.

John Lionel Stretton 1901