152 MATER IA MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



3. SPECIFIC ACTION AND USES. 



The specific action of ether and its employment as an 

 ansesthetic so closely agree with those of chloroform that the 

 reader is referred to the description of the latter drug, and the 

 differences between the two substances only require to be men- 

 tioned here. These are : 



1. Ether must be administered nearly pure, say 70 per cent. 

 of the vapour with 30 per cent, of air ; whilst but 3 to 4 per 

 cent, of chloroform is given, with 97 or 96 per cent, of air. 



2. With ether the stage of stimulation is more protracted ; 

 there is more struggling ; and the stage of anaesthesia is shorter 

 and the degree less profound. Ether is therefore said to be 

 safer than chloroform. 



^3. Ether depresses the heart and vessels less than chloro- 

 form, the heart continuing to beat after respiration has been 

 arrested by an excessive dose. The respiratory centre is also 

 less depressed. For these reasons, also, ether is called a safe 

 anaesthetic. 



4. Ether has a much less pleasant smell than chloroform. 



In choosing between ether and chloroform, preference must 

 be given to the safer anaesthetic, and the use of ether has ac- 

 cordingly been much revived during the last few years. Under 

 certain circumstances chloroform is preferable, as in operations 

 about the mouth, ether causing a profuse secretion of ropy 

 mucus ; in operations where a light or the cautery might come 

 into contact with the ether vapour and cause an explosion ; in 

 operations which must be hastily undertaken and completed ; 

 and in parturition, where profound anaesthesia is unnecessary. 

 Infants bear chloroform well, and their delicate respiratory 

 passages are less irritated by it than by the pungent vapour 

 of ether. 



Given by the stomach in small doses, ether increases the 

 activity of the circulation and nervous system partly, as we 

 have seen, by reflex action from the gastric wall ; and is used 

 as a powerful and rapidly diffusible stimulant and anti- 

 spasmodic. It is given largely in cardiac failure, faints, 

 angina pectoris, palpitation, and depression, being even more 

 rapid in its effects than alcohol, but more evanescent, and 

 of course less available in emergencies. Its antispasmodic 

 powers make it useful in hysterical and epileptic threatenings ; 

 and in spasmodic cough and asthma it is one of the most 

 valuable remedies during the seizure. 



4. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Ether is excreted like chloroform, and to a certain extent 



