28 



MATERIA MEDICA. 



and from the alcohol by agitation with water. When thus purified 

 it is named rectified sulphuric ether. 



Prop. — A colourless limpid liquid, of a strong agreeable and 

 peculiar odour ; a hot pungent taste ; sp. gr. -7, or a little less. 

 Water takes up one part in ten ; very soluble in alcohol ; very vola- 

 tile and inflammable. 



Its effects on the system resemble those of alcohol, only more 

 rapid and transient. It will affect the brain, producing intoxication ; 

 and, like alcohol, its effects are diminished by frequent repetition ; 

 Its impression is very speedily produced on the system by inhala- 

 tion ; by this means, a very powerful narcotic influence may be 

 obtained. 



As a medicine, ether is used chiefly as a powerful diffusive stimu- 

 lant in cases of sudden and alarming prostration, as in metastatic 

 gout, spasmodic asthma, angina pectoris, &c. It is best given in 

 emulsion^ made by rubbing it up with water by means of sperma- 

 ceti. Externally applied, it produces cold, if allowed to evaporate ; 

 or a rubefacient effect, if confined to the skin. 



The spirit of sulphuric ether (^Spiritus cetheris sulphurici, U. S.) 

 is a solution of ether in alcohol : it is not much used. 



Hoffman's Anodyne {Spiritus cetheris sidphurici compositus, 

 U. S.) is much more employed. It contains some oil of wine, to 

 which it owes its peculiar fragrant odour, and which causes it to im- 

 part a milkiness to water; this is a test of its genuineness. It is 

 much used to allay nervous irritations : it acts as an antispasmodic. 

 Dose of ether, f 3ss. to f 3j ; — of Hoffman's Anodyne, about the same. 



O 



PIUM. 



The concrete juice of the Papaver somniferum, which is probably 

 a native of Persia, but is now cultivated in various parts of the world. 

 It is an annual plant, attaining the height of 2 to 4 feet. The flower 

 consists of four large petals (Fig. 2). There are two varieties of 

 the papaver somniferum, named the ivhite and blcwk poppy. 



The capsvles (poppy-heads) are about one and a half to two 

 inches in diameter, of a yellowish-brown colour, and filled with 

 small seeds, which contain much fixed oil of a bland character, but 

 no narcotic principle. The capsules themselves are slightly nar- 

 cotic, and are sometimes employed in the form of decoction and 

 syrup. 



Opium is procured by making incisions in the half-ripe capsules, 

 and collecting the juice which exudes, and properly drying it. It is 

 obtained in large quantities in India, Persia, and Asia Minor; the 

 chief supply of commerce being afforded from the latter country. 



The different varieties of opium are the India, Persia, Turkey, 

 and Egyptian. — The India variety is almost exclusively consumed 

 in India and China. The Persian very seldom comes to this country. 



