Anesthesia and The Nervous System Anesthetic agents slow down
the central nervous system and ultimately cause a loss of
consciousness. There are two classifications for these types of
agents. An anesthetic can either be considered general or local.
In the early 1800’s anesthetics were used in surgery in the form
of nitrous oxide. This form is still commonly used today in
dental offices. Several anesthetics that were used by the mid
1800’s, like chloroform and ether, are either hardly used or are
no longer used in modern medicine due to the health problems
they have been associated with. A general anesthetic is
primarily used for surgical purposes. A specialized healthcare
provider must be trained to administer general anesthesia. Only
an anesthesiologist or a nurse anesthetist can administer this
type of anesthesia, which is usually inhaled through a mask or
breathing tube. A general anesthetic can either be one pure form
of a medication or a mixture of medications. An anesthetic that
consists of a mixture of