156 MATER i A MEDIC A AND THERAPEUTICS. 



SPIRITUS ^THERIS NITROSI. SPIRIT OF 



NITROUS ETHER. 



"Sweet Spirit of Nitre." A spiritous solution, 

 containing nitrous ether, ethyl nitrite, C a H 5 NO 2 . 



Source. Made by distilling a mixture of Rectified Spirit, 

 Nitric Acid, Sulphuric Acid, and Copper ; and dissolving the 

 Distillate in Spirit. C 2 H 6 O + HN0 3 + H 2 S0 4 + Cu = 

 C 2 H 5 N0 2 4- CuS0 4 -f 2H 2 0. The equation represents the 

 formation of ethyl nitrite, but the drug also contains acetic 

 ether, aldehyde, and acetic acid dissolved in spirit. 



Characters. Transparent and nearly colourless, with a 

 slight tinge of yellow, mobile, of an apple-like odour, and a 

 sweetish cooling sharp taste ; slightly acid ; inflammable. Sp. 

 gr., -845. 



1 it compatibles. Iodide of potassium, sulphate of iron, 

 tincture of guaiacum, gallic and tannic acids. Emulsions are 

 curdled by its addition. 



Impurity. Excess of acid ; effervescing much with NaHC0 3 . 



Dose.% to 2 fl.dr. 



ACTION AND USES. 

 1. IMMEDIATE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



In the stomach spirit of nitrous ether is a diffusible stimu- 

 lant and carminative, doubtless from the amount of alcohol 

 which it contains. 



2. ACTION ON THE BLOOD. 



The nitrite of ethyl appears to produce the same effect on 

 the red corpuscles as other nitrites, especially diminishing 

 oxygenation. See AMYL NITRIS. 



3. SPECIFIC ACTION AND USES. 



Although anaesthetic to a degree, sweet spirit of nitre 

 chiefly acts upon the circulation like amyl nitrite. It relaxes 

 the peripheral vessels, and accelerates the heart, but much less 

 quickly, less completely, and more persistently than the amyl 

 compounds. Thus it lowers arterial tension, and causes the 

 phenomena described at page 163, only in a much less degree. 

 By relaxing the renal vessels it is diuretic, the water alone 

 being increased ; by dilating the cutaneous vessels, as well as by 

 perspiration, it increases the loss of heat from the skin. Nitrous 

 ether is chiefly used as an antipyretic in febrile affections, where 

 it diminishes the heat production by acting on the blood, and 



