Croft (1919–2009)

Neither Russell nor Burch were animal anaesthetists and throughout their "Principles" refer—when necessary—to the experimental work of Phyllis Croft, a veterinary neurologist. For example,

*"Croft has also recently (1957) discussed the condition for veterinary and experimental use of the relaxants or curariform drugs which block neuromuscular transmission among other e*ff*ects and which in general should only be used in conjunction with general anaesthesia and in mammals, facilities for artificial respiration".* [53]

In 1960, Croft, in conjunction with UFAW, published, "An introduction to the anaesthetics of laboratory animals". The booklet, which was 31 pages long and written for technicians and junior graduates who had no previous experience of anaesthesia, described injection technique and the choice of anaesthetic, and contained sections on practical anaesthesia in rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats and mice. The selection of drugs was confined to ether, thiopentone and pentobarbitone, and its emphasis was on simplicity [54]. Its publication represents the beginnings of a literature devoted to laboratory animal anaesthesia.
