Evening star., 1941-04-20
Psychologists Induce
Anesthesia on Doqs
By Electric Current
Method Causes Peaceful
Sleep, University Of
Chicago Doctor Says
~ . staff Correspondent Of The Star.

~ \ staff Correspondent Of The star.
CHICAGO, April 1s.-Electric
sleep. 4 new type Of anesthesia. Is
Being demonstrated successfully on
animals by University Of Chicago
physiologists and promises TO be Of
value in human surgery,
BY gradually stepping 20 q small
current through the spinal cord
animals can be thrown into q peace
ful siumber in which all sense Of
pain is obliterated, 1t Is explained
by Or. M. l.. Silver.
The advantage over any chemical
er gas anesthetic, he pointed out,
Is that the progress OF the anes-
thesia Is under constant control OF
the surgeon, whereas otherwise 1t
Is always 4 step ahead Of him.
Produces No Ill Effects.
Animals emerge from the sleep
without any Ill effects whatever, Or.
silver said. Dogs have been kept In
this state Of unconsciousness for as
hong as eight hours.
The principle has been known for
nearly 10 years. In 1904 q French
physiologist named Leduc was
scheduled to demonstrate 1t before
the Paris Academy. On the day
arranged for the exhibit DR.. Leduc
was i'll and sent an assistant who
did not understand the apparatus.
This man turned on the full cur
rent at once, with the result that
the dog was electrocuted. This put
m end to the work for the time
being
Later reports were brought to the
United States by physioloSist who
had worked with Leduc and the
principle was used successfully about
isi1 in one human leg amputation
b ct. Louis. Then II dropped out
Of sight.
Turned on Gradually.
Electrodes are placed on the soap
and at the bottom OF the spinal
cord and a direct current of very
nv intensity Is turned on gradually.
The amount must be calculated ac-
ecrding TO the size the animal and
has not yet been determined for .
human being. IN q l0-pound dog
q maximum Of about 10 milliam-
peres is used.
1t would be impossible to feel this
current, gradually induced, passing
through tissues. The theory 10 that
It must pass along the spinal cord,
DR. Silver said.
Repeated tests have shown that
the animals are completely anesthe-
tazed. II requires about Is minutes
to bring q dog out OF this sleep, in
comparison to an hour or more for
other types Of anesthetics, DR.. Silver
said. The animals show no signs Of
abnormality after six months or
more.
In these experiments direct cur
rent is used. This can be supplied
by storage batteries, so that the
anssthetizing agent does not depend
On the local type Of electricity.
Induces Peaceful Sleep.
The appearance Of the animals
with the current. flowing through
their spinal cords, DR.. Silver said,
ID that OF creatures In a peaceful
sleep, with slow, regular breathing.
Ths animal Is brought out Of the
anesthesia by slowly reducing the
current. A sudden stop, DR.. Silver
explained, probably would be too
great 4 shock. This can be started
inmediately If the patient" shows
any signs of . bad reaction-a pro-
eedure impossible In the use Of an
inhalation anesthesia. 1t also dif-
fers from an injection anesthesia
which cannot be gotten out Of the
blood stream.
There Is no doubt, DIR. Silver ex-
planned, that the method would be
sntirsly adaptable to human surgery,
but much more experimentation will
be required 10 determine proper
dcsagss and best methods Of ad-
hatnistxaSion.