DOSES AND MEDICINAL FORMS 367 



purposes ; but good methyl-ether, on account of its cheap- 

 ness, is sometimes substituted. As a stimulant horses take 

 f i. to f ii. ; cattle, f ii. to f iii. ; sheep and pigs, f 3ii- to 

 f 3iv. ; dogs, f 3ss. to f 3i- It is administered in ten parts 

 cold water or diluted spirit, is sometimes sweetened with 

 sugar or treacle, or flavoured with aromatics. Combination 

 with opium, Indian hemp, or belladonna, increases its anti- 

 spasmodic and anodyne effects. Where immediate results 

 are required, as in violent attacks of colic, or in collapse, 

 two to four drachms are injected hypodermically, or deeply 

 into muscles. 



As an anaesthetic, ether made from ethyl-alcohol is gener- 

 ally preferred. The larger animals take fiii. to fgviii. : 

 the smaller, f 3iv. to f i. 



SPIRIT OF ETHER, or spiritus aetheris, is a mixture of ten 

 ounces ether and twenty ounces of rectified spirit, and is 

 used as a stimulant and antispasmodic. 



ETHEREAL OIL, oleum aethereum, or oil of wine, produced 

 towards the close of the distillation of ether, is an oily, 

 yellow, neutral liquid, containing ether mixed with various 

 hydrocarbons, has a bitter taste and aromatic odour, is 

 soluble in ether and alcohol, and possessed of anodyne and 

 hypnotic properties. 



SPIRITUS ^THERIS COMPOSITUS, or Hoffmann's anodyne, 

 consists of oil of wine, ether, and alcohol (90 per cent.). 



ACETIC ETHER, or ethyl-acetate (C 2 H 5 .C 2 H 3 2 ), is prepared 

 by distilling rectified spirit with sodium acetate and sulphuric 

 acid. It is a colourless, neutral liquid, with a fragrant 

 odour. Freely soluble in alcohol, ether, or chloroform. 

 Specific gravity *900 to *905. Its actions nearly resemble 

 those of ether. It is used as a stimulant, carminative, and 

 antispasmodic, but is unsuitable as an anaesthetic. 



CONTRACTILE COLLODION is prepared by mixing one part of 

 gun-cotton with thirty-six of ether and twelve of rectified 

 spirit. The solution, preserved in well-corked bottles, is 

 clear, colourless, inflammable, evolves a strong ethereal 

 odour, and on exposure to the air, dries rapidly, leaving a 

 thin transparent film, insoluble in water or spirit. It is 

 hence a useful substitute for sticking-plaster ; repeated 

 applications are laid on with a fine brush at intervals of a 



