ETHYLATE OF SODIUM. 155 



1'42. Non-inflammable. Readily decomposes, yielding bro- 

 mine. Freely soluble in alcohol and ether; very sparingly 

 soluble in water. 



Lose. 10 to 60 min. 



ACTION AND USES. 



Bromide of ethyl acts as an ansesthetic like chloroform and 

 ether. For a time it was used in America and England, espe- 

 "cially in short painful operations, and in ophthalmic practice, 

 as its action is rapid and evanescent, and sickness rare. More 

 than one death during or after its administration must account 

 for its sudden loss of popularity. It has also been given by the 

 stomach as an antispasmodic, especially in convulsions. 



BICHLORIDE OF METHYLENE. CHLORIDE OF 



MONO-CHLOR-METHYL. CH 2 C1 2 (CH 2 C1.C1). 



(Not Officinal) 



Source. Obtained from Chloroform by the action of nascent 

 Hydrogen, one atom of which replaces one atom of chlorine in 

 the Chloride of Dichlor- methyl (chloroform), CHC1 2 .C1. 



Characters. A colourless volatile liquid, with an odour 

 like chloroform. Specific gravity, 1'344. Soluble in water, 

 ether, and alcohol. 



ACTION AND USES. 



Bichloride of methylene acts as a general anaesthetic very 

 much like chloroform. It is said, however, to depress the heart 

 even more than this substance ; and it is now very seldom used 

 for general surgery, but is the anaesthetic most frequently 

 employed in ovariotomy. 



ETHYLATE OF SODIUM, SOLUTION OF. 

 (Not Officinal) 



Source. Made by dissolving metallic Sodium in Absolute 

 Alcohol. 



Characters. A brownish syrupy liquid. 



ACTION AND USES. 



Sodium ethylate is a powerful caustic, used to destroy 

 small accessible tumours, such as 



