EXCITEMENT IN AN ELEPHANT AFTER INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF ATROPINE

A 28-year-old Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) was anesthetized for ce sarean section to remove a dead calf. The elephant was sedated with az aperone, and atropine was administered Iv 90 minutes later in preparat ion for induction of anesthesia with etorphine HCl. Within 1 minute of injection of atropine, the elephant began swaying, kicking, and movin g in an agitated manner around the stall. There is considerable variat ion among species in the toxicity of atropine, although development of toxicosis usually is associated with overdosage.