Anesthetization to Crocodile

I got an experience when i was working in Brunei Darussalam, on July 2011. Two men came to the animal hospital. After talking with my boss, they asked for help so that we, veterinarians, did anesthetization to a crocodile whose plan will be used as alternative medicine. Part of crocodile’s body, used for medicine, was its saliva.

My boss, a veterinarian, was surprised because he did anesthetization for the first time. He asked all staffs to discuss about the process and the safety for human and animal. After two weeks, the day waited came. The crocodile whose weight was until 150 kilogram spent almost two bottles of the anaesthetics. After it had been anaesthetized, its uper and lower jaws was pulled and the elastic orb in which its diameter is as big as pipe’s lenght about 20 centimeter was entered to the mouth for restraining it to stay open in order to save from injury.

When i was waiting preparation of crocodile, the study was started with speech. From this speech, i knew that the saliva can be medicine especially for disease of skin. This therapy was often used by the society of Malay. However, i just find little information about it.

After process of preparation had finished, every member of the study entered the hands into the mouth of crocodile. The saliva in our hands was wiped to elbow and face. Finally, you should wait until dry.

Translated from Kompas (12/4/2012) in column of Kompasiana,

and Written by Ratna Amaliania