i 



ALTHER. 151 



Source. Made by shaking ether with water, separat- 

 ing, purifying by quicklime and chloride of calcium, 

 and distilling. 



Ch a racters. Specific gravity, 0*720. Boils at 96 

 Fahr. Given by inhalation. 



Impurities. Alcohol and water ; detected by specific 

 gravity. 



2. Spiritus JEtheris Ether. 1 ; Rectified Spirit, 2. 

 Specific gravity, 0'809. Dose, 30 to 60 min. 



From Spiritus ^Etheris is prepared : 



rinctura Lobelias ^Etherea, See Lobelia. 

 Cther- is also used in making Collodion and 



Liquor Epispasticus ; and in many pharmaceutical 



processes. 



ACTION AND USES. 

 1. IMMEDIATE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Externally. When allowed to evaporate, ether is a powerful 

 refrigerant and anaesthetic, abstracting heat and depressing 

 the nerves of the part. It is used in the form of Dr. 

 Richardson's spray to relieve the internal local pain of 

 neuralgia, and more frequently to prevent pain in minor sur- 

 gical operations, the parts being completely frozen in the 

 course of a few minutes by the spray of pure ether from a 

 proper apparatus. If the vapour be confined, or the ether 

 rubbed into the skin, a rubefacient or even vesicant effect is 

 produced, as with chloroform. The Ethereal Extract of 

 Mezereon and Liquor Epispasticus are powerful vesicants and 

 counter-irritants. 



Internally. Ether has a powerfully burning, disagreeable 

 taste, and causes local irritation and reflex salivation in the 

 mouth, like chloroform. Reaching the stomach, it acts as a 

 local stimulant to the blood-vessels, nerves, and m 

 and is therefore used as a carminative, relieving pain and sick- 

 ness, and expelling flatulence, especially in : 

 At the same time, it acts reliexly from the gastric muco.- 

 the heart and respiratory organs, as a powerful systemic stimu- 

 lant. It is a very useful ingredient of powerful anti-spasmodic 

 draughts, as will be presently described. Given with cod-liver 

 oil, it renders it more palatable to some patients, and more 

 digestible, possibly by stimulating the pancreas. 



2. ACTION ON THE BLOOD. 



Ether is absorbed into the blood with remarkable rapidity, 

 and acts here like chloroform. 



