ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF AMYL AND ETHYL COMPOUNDS. 177 



teen days. I liave no doubt that animals injected in this way might be 

 transported wholesale, if enclosed in boxes, during a voyage of three weeks 

 or a month. 



The last method, that of bringing the structure into close contact with the 

 amyl-compound, was not successful. I gathered from all these experiments 

 that as antiseptics the amyls require to be so applied that they diffuse through 

 the tissues, and that they continue to act until they are carried away. 



ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF SOME COMPOUNDS ■ 

 OF THE ETHYL SERIES. 



Turning from these amyl-compouuds, I have next to rej^ort on some of the 

 bodies belonging to the ethyl series. For many centuries the ethers have 

 been known and studied as substances possessing peculiar powers over animal 

 bodies ; and of late years their use as anaesthetic substances for general and 

 local i)urposcs has given to them additional interest. 



The compounds of ethyl which I have specially studied are the oxide, the 

 acetate, the nitrite, and hydrofluoric ether. 



Oxide of Ethyl. 



The first of these, commonly known as pure ether, rectified ether, or 

 sulphuric ether, is a substance that has been of great intez-est to the modern 

 physiologist, owing to the fact that it has been applied largely for producing 

 general insensibility to pain by the process of inhalation, and more recently 

 by the local process of evaporation. 



Although largely demanded for the first of these processes, the oxide of 

 ethyl that has been sold for the purposes of the medical physicist has been 

 most imperfect. The absurd rule of the Pharmacopoeia, which allowed a cer- 

 tain small admixture of alcohol with ether, was the loophole through which 

 the most flagrant abuses were permitted to find way. In fact, when at the 

 commencement of the present year I required oxide of ethyl on a large scale, 

 I could not for many weeks obtain any pure specimen that was not specially 

 made for me : there was Jio uniformity either in respect to specific gravity, 

 boihrig-point, or reaction. These facts fully accoimt for the great diversity of 

 the opinions that have been expressed- relative to the action of ether on the 

 bodies of men and animals. The process for obtaining a pure oxide of ethyl 

 is nevertheless very simple, and demands only care, patience, and honesty. 

 Since February last, two thousand pounds weight of absolute ether have been 

 sent out from one London house alone, that of Bobbins and Comj)any of 

 Oxford Street. 



The piire substance is a colourless, almost inodorous fluid ; its specific 

 gravity is 0-716 to 0*720 ; and 88° Fahr. may be taken as its mean boiling- 

 point. 



"With a pure and reliable oxide of ethyl, I have been enabled to study 

 the physiological action of the substance with a precision not before attained. 



To produce a decided efiect on the body of a warm-blooded animal by 

 means of ether, it is best to administer the substance in the foz-m of vapour, 

 charging the air with from twenty to twenty-five per cent., and sustaining 

 the supply steadily. The sensations produced are from the first pleasurable ; 

 there is expansion of idea in relation to space and to objects, then confusion 

 with a peculiar sensation of sweetness in the mouth, and at last oblivion. 

 The ether being withdrawn, recovery is very rapid indeed, so rapid that there is 

 scarcely any perceptible stage of recovery : it is a sudden awaking to complete 

 consciousness. In this respect ether closely resembles amylene in its action. 



1866. If 



