The invention relates to a method for anaesthetizing animals before slaughter, by the anaesthetic action of gases or gas mixtures, method operating in batch mode in which the live animals, preferably put together in one or more cages, are placed in a lock chamber for treatment where the animals are brought into contact with anaesthetic gas, following a cycle comprising several steps characterized by different contents of anaesthetic gas, characterized in that at least one of the steps is carried out using gas recovered from the lock chamber and stored in at least one capacity (2, No. 1, No. 2 etc.) for temporary storage having a variable volume.

Various systems, devices, NO.sub.2 absorbents, NO.sub.2 scavengers and NO.sub.2 recuperator for generating nitric oxide are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide can include a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.

Various systems, devices, NO.sub.2 absorbents, NO.sub.2 scavengers and NO.sub.2 recuperator for generating nitric oxide are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide can include a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.

The present invention belongs to the field of animal gas anesthesia, and provides a quantitative and precise gas anesthesia method and device for experimental animals. The quantitative and precise gas anesthesia device for experimental animals includes an anesthetic fluid tank, a drainage tube, catheters, closed animal anesthetic tanks, and a recycling container, where anesthetic fluid is put into the anesthetic fluid tank, the bottom of the anesthetic fluid tank is connected to an inlet of the drainage tube, a set of holes are evenly arranged in the drainage tube, each hole is connected to an inlet of each catheter, and outlets of the catheters extend into the closed animal anesthetic tanks.

The present invention belongs to the field of animal gas anesthesia, and provides a quantitative and precise gas anesthesia method and device for experimental animals. The quantitative and precise gas anesthesia device for experimental animals includes an anesthetic fluid tank, a drainage tube, catheters, closed animal anesthetic tanks, and a recycling container, where anesthetic fluid is put into the anesthetic fluid tank, the bottom of the anesthetic fluid tank is connected to an inlet of the drainage tube, a set of holes are evenly arranged in the drainage tube, each hole is connected to an inlet of each catheter, and outlets of the catheters extend into the closed animal anesthetic tanks.

A dart syringe projectile includes a tubular body front and rear ends and a bore extending between said ends. A needle assembly is mounted on the body front end and a tail assembly is mounted on the body rear end. The body bore or the tail assembly receives a striker, a percussion cap positioned in front of the striker, an explosive charge positioned in front of the percussion cap and a plunger positioned in front of the explosive charge. A reservoir cavity in front of the plunger receives a substance for injection. The dart syringe projectile has a flight configuration with the substance in the reservoir cavity and an injection configuration with the plunger propelled forwardly by the explosive charge and the substance discharged from discharge ports in the needle, which are in spaced relation behind a needle tip.

The present invention provides methods for determining the selectivity of an anesthetic for an anesthetic-sensitive receptor by determining the molar water solubility of the anesthetic. The invention further provides methods for modulating the selectivity of an anesthetic for an anesthetic-sensitive receptor by altering or modifying the anesthetic to have higher or lower water solubility. The invention further provides methods of inducing anesthesia in a subject by administering via the respiratory pathways (e.g., via inhalational or pulmonary delivery) an effective amount of an anesthetic compound identified according to the present methods.

The present invention provides methods for determining the selectivity of an anesthetic for an anesthetic-sensitive receptor by determining the molar water solubility of the anesthetic. The invention further provides methods for modulating the selectivity of an anesthetic for an anesthetic-sensitive receptor by altering or modifying the anesthetic to have higher or lower water solubility. The invention further provides methods of inducing anesthesia in a subject by administering via the respiratory pathways (e.g., via inhalational or pulmonary delivery) an effective amount of an anesthetic compound identified according to the present methods.

A method for assessing pain caused by administration of a drug solution includes: anesthetizing an experimental animal; inserting a measurement electrode into skeletal muscle of the anesthetized experimental animal; puncturing an injection needle into a predetermined part of the anesthetized experimental animal while measuring a myoelectric potential of the skeletal muscle with the measurement electrode; administering a drug solution to the anesthetized experimental animal; and (i) measuring a duration time of the myoelectric response caused by the administration of the drug solution, and/or (ii) measuring an EMG intensity obtained by integrating absolute values of myoelectric potentials during a period from occurrence of the myoelectric response by the administration of the drug solution to disappearance of the myoelectric response.

An inhaler, preferably for insertion into a nostril, in particular a horse's nostril, with a pressure generator, which has a tensioning device for the drive, and with a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the tensioning device, whereby the tensioning mechanism has a lever gear for tensioning the tensioning device.