ON THE PHYSIOLOOrCAL ACTION OF AMYL ANP ETHYL COMPOUNDS. 173 



fluence, but it enters into no chemical combination with the tissues. This is 

 due to its great insolubility in the blood and animal fluids. Amylene requires 

 9319 parts of water for its solution. 



3. Of ami/lic alcohol it was shown that, like amylene, it was antiseptic. 

 When the vapour of it is inhaled, it produces first irritation of the nostril, 

 and next drowsiness and a kind of coma, but without insensibility to pain. 

 In this comatose state there is developed a peculiar muscular action, a series 

 of rigors which increase in force under any degree of excitement ; but it is 

 almost impossible to destroy life by its means. Animals brought to the verge 

 of death and seeming past all recovery begin to rally so soon as they are 

 placed in the open air. 



4. The acetate of amf/l was shown to produce the same kind of symptoms as 

 those produced by amylic alcohol ; it also preserves organic substances from 

 putrefaction. It is used for flavouring-purposes under the name of essence 

 of pears. 



5. The action of the iodide of amyl was shown to be somewhat difierent 

 from that of any of the other compounds. When inhaled it induces mixed 

 symptoms, resembling in part those produced by the nitrite of amyl, and in 

 part those produced by amylic alcohol. It causes excitement, great tremor 

 of muscles, and during recovery a singular motion of the animal in a circle ; 

 it also excites salivation, and renders the extremities of the animal red and 

 vascular during inhalation. 



In the discussion which followed the reading of the papers named above, 

 one special point attracted most attention. A question first was asked by 

 Dr. Heaton, of Leeds, and afterwards by Professor Wanklyn : — Whether the 

 difierences of symptoms observed in dealing with diff'erent compounds of the 

 amyl series turned actually on a change in the base itself, or on the combi- 

 nation of the base with a new compound. To take an illustration : was, 

 for instance, the nitrite of amyl so peculiarly active simply because it was an 

 amyl-compound, or because it was the nitrite of amyl ? 



This question is one of the chief (if not the chief) questions answered in 

 the present Report. It was considered in the last Report in the following 

 terms : — " The base amyl is, if I may use the expression, the keynote ; but 

 variations are introduced as new elements are added. The order of varia- 

 tion is most interesting. We take a simple hydrocarbon, the hydruret of 

 amyl, and we have an almost negative body, acting not unlike nitrogen, and 

 partly destroying motor force and consciousness, but no more. We introduce 

 the element oxygen into the inquii-y by using the hydrated oxide of amyl 

 or the acetate, and there is added to the above-named phenomena violent 

 and persistent tremor. We move from this to another compound, and brin» 

 iodine into the field, and the phenomena now"embrace free elimination of 

 fluid from the body, vascularity of the extreme parts, with increased action of 

 the heart and of respiration. We change the combination once more to bring 

 nitrogen and oxygen into operation with the base, and the vascular action is 

 raised beyond what is seen from any other known substance, to be followed 

 by a prostration so profound that the still living animal might for a time 

 pass for dead." 



NEW EESEARCHES. 



In the past year I have repeated the experiments conducted originally with 

 the compounds of amyl, the compounds themselves being most accurately made. 

 The result has been to confirm the facts previously observed, in all their 

 integrity. In two directions I have extended these researches, with the 



