150 MATERIA MKDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 



Pallor of the face is to be combated by lowering the head 

 and shoulders ; if severe, by dropping the head over the end of 

 the table. If this should not succeed, the vapour of nitrite of 

 amyl should be given. 



Shallow breathing, especially if intermittent, should be 

 anxiously watched; and if it increase, artificial respiration 

 should be at once resorted to, on no account waiting for the re- 

 spiration to cease. 



h. After-treatment. Absolute quiet and keeping the eyes 

 closed often prevent sickness after an operation. The whole 

 surface of the body being carefully covered to pi-event chill, the 

 room should be cleared of ether vapour as quickly as possible. 

 Cough induced by ether is often attended by blood-stained 

 mucus, which, with these precautions, is of no consequence. 

 Food should not be given within two hours after the operation, 

 and for the first twelve hours should be entirely cold, and con- 

 sist chiefly of soups and jellies, milk being avoided. A tea- 

 spoonful of burned brandy will often relieve the after-sickness, 

 when all other measures have failed. 



4. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION. 



Chloroform is excreted in part, as such, by the kidneys, 

 lungs, and skin ; part is lost in the system. No use is made 

 of its remote effects, although small doses given by the mouth 

 are said to increase all the secretions. 



AETHER. ETHER. C 4 H 10 O. 



A volatile liquid prepared from Alcohol, and containing at 

 least 92 per cent, pure ether. C 4 H 10 0. 



Source. Made by (1 and 2) distilling Rectified Spirit with 

 Sulphuric Acid, purifying with Slaked Lime and Chloride of 

 Calcium, and redistilling. (1) C 2 H 6 + H.,S0 4 = C 2 H 6 S0 4 

 (sulphovinic acid) + H 2 0. (2) C\ 2 H 6 S0 4 + C 2 H 6 = C 4 H 10 

 -f H,S0 4 . 



Characters. A colourless, very volatile liquid, with pecu- 

 liar strong odour and hot taste. It is entirely dissipated in 

 vapour when exposed to the air, boils below 105" Fahr., and is 

 very inflammable. It contains 8 per cent, of spirit. Specific 

 gravity, 0'735. 



Impurities. Alcohol ; tested by specific gravity. 



Dose. 20 to 60 min. 



Preparations. 



1. ./Ether Puma. Pure Ether. Ether free from 

 alcohol and water. 



