In certain operations the selection of the anesthetic agents and the method of their administration is of suchimportance that the success of the operation may be said to depend on the way in which the anesthesia is conducted. This is particularly true in operations about the head and neck in which, in order to do his best work the surgeon should have a clear field and be interfered with as little as possible by the anesthetist.
This statement holds true, also, of operations on the thoracic cavity, empyema or abscess of the lung; in operations on the kidney, with or without an existing nephritis; in certain grave abdominal operations, especially in those with peritonitis and vomiting; and in bladder and prostate operations on old men.
In such cases the anesthetist should always see his patient the day before operation, and after a careful examination (to study especially the breathing) should