276' INORGANIC AGENTS 



Action Internal. — Digestive Organs. — Ether is an irritant 

 to the mucous membrane of the digestive tract, and should 

 be given only when considerably diluted with water. Ether 

 stimulates secretion, motion, and increases local blood 

 supply of the stomach. Ether, in concentration, resembles 

 alcohol and ammonia in stimulating the heart reflexly, by 

 its irritant action upon the alimentary canal, before it has 

 time to be absorbed. It relieves pain and spasm in the 

 digestive tract by coordinating or restoring nervous control 

 over the stomach and bowels. 



Circulation. — Ether stimulates the motor ganglia of the 

 heart, and. increases its force and frequency. It also excites 

 the vasomotor centres and increases vascular tension. In 

 poisonous doses, or after prolonged inhalation, the circula- 

 tion becomes depressed and weak. 



Nervous System. — Ether exerts a primary, transient, 

 stimulating action upon the brain and lower nervous centres, 

 but rapidly succeeding this, ether depresses and abolishes 

 the functions of all the great nerve centres in the following 

 order, and with the following results : 



1. The cerebrum (with loss of consciousness). 



2. Sensory spinal tract (loss of sensation). 



3. Motor spinal area (loss of motion and partial loss- 

 of reflex action). 



3. Sensory medullary centres. 



6. Motor medullary centres (failure of respiration). 



Ether does not affect the nerves or muscles when 

 inhaled or ingested. Ether depresses the action of the 

 nerves, however, when applied locally. 



Respiration. — The respiratory centre is stimulated by 

 inhalation or ingestion of therapeutic quantities of ether. 

 Paralysis of the respiratory centre occurs in the last stage 

 of ether poisoning. Ether vapor is irritant to the respira- 

 tory mucous membrane, and causes coughing and choking 

 during inhalation. It is not an appropriate anaesthetic, 

 therefore, in inflammatory conditions of the respiratory 

 tract. Ether vapor excites the peripheral ends oi the trifa- 



