The advances in the field of anaesthesiology and reanimation have contributed in all developed countries to the decrease in deaths occurring on the operating table (exitus in tabula), from the ratio 1: 100 (in the nineteenth century) down to approximately 1: 1000 (in the first half of the twentieth century) and finally to approxi mately 1: 10 000 (nowadays). Numerous human lives were saved not only through the intro duction of new medicine and methods but even more so by better training for the doctors and nurses who apply these new techni ques. I am happy about the splendid initiative of my student and friend Georg Kamm, which has now made these advances acces sible to the developing countries. He knows very well how to make his colleagues understand the theory and the practical side of modern anaesthesiology, under the most difficult conditions and in a completely different world, to such an extent that to day in his country all of his patients are given the benefit of the advances of medicine. There is nothing more rewarding for an academic teacher than to see how his students continue developing his ideas and spread them far and wide. I am therefore happy and proud to write this foreword for Georg Kamm, one of the pioneers of anaesthesiology in Africa.

1. A Short Review of the Anatomy and Physiologyof the Respiratory System

1.1 Anatomy
1.2 Physiology
1.3 Oxygen
1.4 Anatomy and Physiology of the AutonomicNerve System
2. Pharmacology of General Anaesthesia
2.1 Inhalation Anaesthesia
2.2 Intravenous Anaesthesia
2.3 Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs
2.4 Other Drugs Used in Anaesthesia
2.5 List of Drugs Commonly Used in Anaesthesia
3. Pre-operative Examination
3.1 History of the Patient
3.2 Clinical Examination
3.3 Laboratory Investigations
3.4 Summary
3.5 Comments
3.7 Laboratory Investigation
3.8 Remember
4. Premedication
4.1 Lowering of Reflex Activity
4.2 Sedation and Reduction of Anxiety
4.3 Premedication for Children and Infants
4.4 Summary
5. Maintenance of the Airway
5.1 Causes of Respiratory Obstruction in the Patient
5.2 Intubation
5.3 Artificial Ventilation of the Lungs
6. Anaesthesia Techniques and Equipment
6.1 Open Method
6.2 Half-Open Method or Semi-Open System
6.3 Half-Closed System
6.4 Closed System
6.5 PEEP Respiration
7. General Anaesthesia Techniques
7.1 Barbiturate - Ether - Air
7.2 Ketalar - Ether - Air
7.3 Neuroleptica - Ether - Air
7.4 Induction Followed by 02+N20+Halothane
7.5 Maintenance of Anaesthesia
7.6 Monitoring
7.7 Recovery
7.8 Relaxation and Artificial Ventilation
8. Anaesthesia in Obstetrics
8.1 Drugs
8.2 Adequate O2 Tension
8.3 General Anaesthesia for Caesarean Section
8.4 Care and Resuscitation of the Neonatal
9. Paediatric Anaesthesia
9.1 Equipment
9.2 Technique of Anaesthesia
10. Ketalar-Mono Anaesthesia
10.1 Short-Acting Anaesthesia
10.2 Anaesthesia for Longer than 20 Minutes
10.3 Indication and Technique
10.4 Scoline-drip as Muscle Relaxant
11. Anaesthesia forOphthalmic Surgery
12. Anaesthesia and Associated Medical Problems
12.1 Anaemia
12.2 Sickle Cell Anaemia
12.3 Heart Disease
12.4 Hypertension
12.5 Chest Disease
12.6 Chronic Chest Disease
12.7 Liver Disease
12.8 Renal Disease
12.9 Diabetes
13. Local Anaesthesia
13.1 Pharmacology
13.2 Indications of Local Anaesthesia
13.3 Complications
13.4 Types of Local Anaesthesia
13.5 Technique
13.6 Spinal Anaesthesia
13.7 Epidural Anaesthesia
14. Management of Emergency Situations
14.1 Cardiac Arrest
14.2 Shock
14.3 Poisoning
15. Fluids and Electrolytes
15.1 Acidosis and Alkalosis
15.2 Electrolytes
16. Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.)
16.1 Trained Personnel
16.2 Special Establishment
16.3 Equipment
17. Fear and Confidence
References.