VOLUNTARY INHALATION OF VOLATILE ANESTHETICS AND ORGANIC SOLVENTS BY MONKEYS

Abstract

A nasal catheter was implanted in a monkey which was restrained chronically in a specially designed cage by a freejointed metal arm and harness. Vapors of chloroform, ether or lacquer thinner were sent to the nasal cavity of the monkey through the catheter for a preset time period when he pressed a lever switch which was located on a wall of the cage. Thus, the monkey was able to inhale the organic solvents voluntarily.All six monkeys, two to each agent, took highly concentrated successive doses of the vapors during the daytime and manifested such overt signs of pharmacological effects as ataxia, mydriasis and salivation. Frequent light anesthesia was observed with chloroform. In the course of induction of or recovery from chloroform anesthesia, extreme excitation and hallucinatory behavior were occasionally observed. Two monkeys on chloroform died from suffocation when they were voluntarily self-anesthetized.