all or nothing, I have included many phenomena to see how reasonable
or unreasonable such an explanation might be.


Recapitulation


The following are the principal points presented: In operations
under inhalation anesthesia the nerve impulses from the trauma
reach every part of the brain--the cerebrum that is apparently
anesthetized as well as the medulla that is known to remain awake--
the proof being the PHYSIOLOGIC exhaustion of and the PATHOLOGIC
change in the nerve-cells. Under ether anesthesia the damage
to the nerve-cells is at least four times greater than under
nitrous oxid. Inhalation anesthesia is, therefore, but a veneer--
a mask that "covers the deep suffering of the patient." The cause
of the exhaustion of the brain is the discharge of nervous energy
in a futile effort to energize the paralyzed muscles in an attempt
to escape from the injury just as if no anesthetic had been given.
The exhaustion is, therefore, of the same nature as that from overexertion,
but if the nerve-paths connecting the field of operation
and the brain be blocked, then there is no discharge of nervous
energy from the trauma, and consequently there is no exhaustion,
however severe or prolonged the operation may be.

Fear is a factor in many injuries and operations. The phenomena
of fear probably are exhibited only by animals whose natural defense
is nerve-muscular. The skunk, the porcupine, the turtle, have little
or no fear. Fear is born of the innumerable injuries which have
been inflicted in the course of evolution. Fear, like trauma,