(1) Pharyngeal reflex. Coughing does not necessarily indicate awakening. It usually means that the vapor of the anesthetic is too concentrated and irritates the air passages. “Holding the breath” occurs even in fairly deep narcosis and has the same significance. The treatment is to dilute the anesthetic by admitting air.

(2) Ano-respiratory reflex. The crowing inspiration heard during operation on the perineum or rectum, does not indicate that the patient should have more anesthetic.

(3) The reflex produced by traction on the gall bladder or mesentery is similar in its significance to that of the ano-respiratory reflex.