CEREBRAL DEPRESSANTS. 123 



nall}^ it is rubbed into the skin as a mild counter-irri- 

 tant, rubefacient, and stimulant. Weak solutions 

 with carbolic or salicylic acids are applied to relieve 

 the itching of various skin diseases, as antiseptics to 

 wounds, bedsores, and to check hemorrhage. An 

 excellent refrigerant lotion is composed of alcohol 

 3 iv, acetic acid 3 iss., Goulard's extract 3 ss., water 

 3 xij. As a nutrient tonic and stimulant, hot ale or 

 beer is frequently given in convalescence from ex- 

 hausting diseases; to the horse and cattle in doses of 

 O i.-ij., three times daily. 



^THER— Ether. 



The light compound commonly known as "sul- 

 phuric ether," or "ether," is, correctly speaking, 

 ethylic ether or ethyl oxide — C^H.^O — and is prepared 

 bj^ distilling ethyl hydrate or ethylic alcohol with sul- 

 phuric acid. It is purified by treating with quick- 

 lime and redistillation. 



Oilier, ether, commercial ether, is a liquid com- 

 posed of about seventy -four per cent, of ethyl oxide 

 and about twenty-six per cent, of alcohol, containing 

 a little water. Specific gravity about 0.750 at 59° F. 

 Must be kept in well-stoppered bottles or in soldered 

 tins in a cool place, remote from lights and fire. For 

 properties of ether, see under ^ther Fortior. It is 

 soluble in five times its volume of water. Used 

 chiefly externally. 



u^ther Fortior^ stronger ether, a liquid com- 

 posed of about ninety-four per cent, of ethyl oxide, 



