ON THE ACTION OF THE METHYL AND ALLIED SERIES. 161 



It is distinctly negative in its narcotic effects, and, from what we now know 

 of it, is not a practical narcotic. 



In order to render more complete the research with the hydrides, they 

 were administered by subcutaneous injection in several experiments. Intro- 

 duced into the body in this manner, they were found to be practically negative 

 in their action, a dose, amply sufficient to produce stupor and death by 

 inhalation, being inactive when the agent was carried into the organism 

 by the hypodermic method. Moreover the local effects were so exceedingly 

 slight, that they are unworthy of mention. The insolubility of the fluids in 

 the blood and their negative chemical action can only account for these results. 



Alcohol Series. 

 In previous Reports I have dealt with the physiological action of the 

 alcohol series from mcthylic alcohol up to amylic alcohol. In the present 

 Ecport I bave dealt with certain alcohols in which a new element is in- 

 troduced, viz. sodium alcohol, or sodium ethylato, potassium alcohol, or po- 

 tassium ethylate, and sulphur alcohol, mercaptan. Regarding these sub- 

 stances, the sodium and potassium alcohols, are instances in which the 

 metals sodium or potassium replace one atom of the hydrogen of the 

 radical of the alcohol, while, in respect to the sulphur alcohol, the sulphur 

 replaces the oxygen of the alcohol. 



Alcohol. Sodium alcohol. Potassium alcohol. Sulphur alcohol. 



^•'^^^0 \?Ao G^54o ^^Sns. 



H/" Ka7" -X/^ ''h} 



The object of this research was to ascertain what would be the effect of 

 introducing a new element, by substitution, into a substance, alcohol, the phy- 

 siological action of which was understood. 



Sodium Alcohol, or Ethylate Sodium. — This ethylate is prepared by 

 treating absolute alcohol with pure metallic sodium. So soon as the 

 sodium comes in contact with the alcohol there is free escape of hydrogen, 

 and the addition of sodium has to be continued until action ceases. I find 

 it good to increase the temperature gradually as the action declines. At 

 last there is obtained a thick, nearly white product, which is a saturated 

 solution of sodium alcohol. From the solution ethylate of sodium crystallizes 

 out in beautiful crystals. 



The composition of sodium ethylate is ^-nt ^ 0. When it is brought 



into contact with water it is decomposed, the sodium becoming oxidized by 

 the oxygen of the water to form sodium hydrate, and the hydrogen of the 

 water going to reconstitute the common or ethylie alcohol. 



The change of ethylie alcohol into sodium alcohol transforms it from an 

 irritant to a caustic. Laid on dry parts of the body the sodium ethylate 

 is comparatively inert, creating no more change than the redness and tingling 

 caused by common alcohol ; but so soon as the part to which the substance 

 is api^lied gives up a little -\^'ater, the transformation I have described above 

 occurs ; caustic soda is produced in contact with the skin in proportion as 

 water is eliminated by the skin, and there proceeds a gradual destruction 

 of tissue, which may be so moderated as hardly to be perceptible, or may be 

 so intensified as to act almost Uke a cutting instrument. 



Potassium Alcohol, or Potassium Etliylate. — Potassium ethylate is made 

 in a similar manner as sodium ethylate, viz. by bringing pure potassium 

 into contact with absolute alcohol. The action of the potassium is much 



1870. M 



