Cited by H. Wright, 'The Action of Ether and Chloroform on the Neurons of Rabbits and Dogs', Journal of Physiology 26 (1-2) (1900), pp. 30-41.
Description:

Explanation of Plate I (figs. 1-7):

'Fig. 1. Moderate 'rarefaction' of large pyramidal cell of rabbit after one hour's administration of ether.

Fig. 2. Rarefied anterior cornual cell of rabbit after four hours' etherisation.

Fig. 3. 'Skeleton' pyramidal cell of rabbit after six hours' etherisation.

Fig. 4. Pyramidal cell of rabbit after six hours' etherisation in which the change has advanced beyond the skeleton stage.

Fig. 5. Anterior cornual cell of rabbit after six hours' etherisation showing the same advanced change.

Fig. 6. Rarefied pyramidal cell of dog's cortex after four houirs' etherisation.

Fig. 7. 'Skeleton' pyramidal cell of dog's cortex at the end of six hours' chloroform anaesthesia.' (41)

 

Fig. 1 in text:

'Rabbit 2. Ether for one hour.

(a) Cerebrum. The 'rarefaction' just described is now more general throughout the cell layers, but the pyramidal cells are especially involved (see Plate 1, fig. 1). A few of these have the appearance of mere skeletons, but their outlines are firm, and their nuclei and nucleoli sound. Occasionally in these 'skeleton cells' a faintly stained network with irregular meshes is seen. Glia cells appear swollen, but are not increased in number.' (33)

 

Fig. 2 in text:

'Spinal cord. The posterior cornual cells are for the first time noticeably rarefied, though the majority are still normal. The anterior horn cells are rarefied (Plate 1, fig. 2), and a small number of these show the pseudo-degeneration just described in the cortical cells. The glia cells show the same change and behaviour as in the cortex. Leucocytes are numerouis in the tissue, and mixed with swollen glia cells in the peni-cellular and vascular spaces.' (34)

 

Figs. 3-4 in text:

'Rabbit 5. Ether for six hours.

(a) Cerebrum. Here the same general condition obtains as in the last case, but the number of skeleton cells (Plate 1, fig. 3) is greater, and those in which the disintegrative change has gone further are also more numerous. Small masses of débris with occasionally a pale swollen nucleus can be seen in any section; these are encompassed by swollen glia cells, and leucocytes; in other instances a mass of enlarged, pale glia cells and leucocytes filled with products of degeneration, and scattered debris amongst them are seen. These possibly mark destroyed cells (Plate 1, fig. 4). Comnpared with the one hour case, the number of glia cells is enormous.' (34-35)

 

Fig. 5 in text:

'In the cells lying outside the pyramidal layer fine moniliform swellings are not inifrequently seen in the most distal parts of their dendrons...

(c) Spinal cord. Only a few anterior horn cells remain normal. A small number show extreme change (Plate 1, fig. 5), and quite two-thirds of the remainder are markedly rarefied. Skeleton cells are more numerous tlIan in the last case, and more of the posterior horn cells, especially the larger ones, are affected. The glia cells appear as in the last case.' (35)

 

Fig. 6 in text:

'Dog 4. Ether for four hours. (a) Cerebrum. The large pyramidal cells are decidedly rarefied (Plate 1, fig. 6). The main apical processes are usually denuded of Nissl's bodies; the basal dendrons occasionally show the same change. The edges of such cells are ragged. A few skeleton cells are seen. The glia cells are more swollen, but show no augmentation. By Cox's method the extreme tips of the apical processes are moniliform, but the swellings are small (fig. 3 in text). The basal dendrons are still normal.' (36)

 

Fig. 7 in text:

'Dogs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Chloroform for 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 6 hours respectively.

The changes observed in these animals are of a precisely similar character to those just described in the case of ether. At the end of four hours the rarefaction is slightly more general and more advanced. Plate 1, fig. 7, shows one of the pyramidal cells in the skeleton stage at the end of six hours' antesthesia. With regard to the vascular condition, there is less marked capillary anaemia, and the veins are less congested. This agrees with what was observed in rabbits.' (37)