Handbook of anæsthetics

This volume offers a concise, systematic guide to the practice of anaesthesia as it stood in the early twentieth century. Opening with a clear introduction to the physiological effects of anaesthetic drugs, it then moves through the major risks of shock, asphyxia and the methods used to monitor a patient’s condition. The author explains how to prepare and observe patients before, during, and after surgery, laying a solid foundation for safe practice.

The heart of the book lies in its detailed surveys of individual agents—nitrous oxide, ether, chloroform, ethyl chloride—and the equipment designed to deliver them. Illustrated diagrams accompany descriptions of inhalers, gas‑oxygen apparatus, and airway devices, helping listeners visualise the set‑up of each system. Practical chapters on local and spinal techniques round out the discussion, offering step‑by‑step instructions for infiltration and spinal analgesia.

Listeners will come away with a vivid sense of the meticulous planning and technical knowledge required for early anaesthetic work, and an appreciation for how these historic principles still inform modern practice.