ClimateSeptember 7, 2026

anaesthetising

an-es-THEE-ti-zing

Definition

The act of administering a drug to a living subject to induce a state of temporary loss of sensation or consciousness, typically to perform a medical procedure without pain.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'anaisthesia', meaning 'lack of sensation', composed of the prefix 'an-' (without) and 'aisthesis' (sensation). It entered English in the 19th century as medical practices for managing pain during surgery evolved.

In the news

In the context of Colombian environmental policy, the article notes that sterilizing wild hippos requires capturing and anaesthetising them, which is a dangerous and expensive surgical process.

Four hippos brought to Colombia in 1981 have multiplied into nearly 200 animals roaming the Magdalena River basin — the world’s largest invasive animal, spreading through warm rivers with abundant food and few natural checks

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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