52 REPORT — 1867. 



TnE Hydride of Methyl. 



The hydride of methyl occurs naturally in the form of firedamp in mines, 

 and marsh-gas on land. It is made artifically by heating together in a strong 

 flask acetate of soda, caustic potash, and well-dried lime. For physiological 

 experiment the hydride of methyl can only be administered by inhalation. It 

 is a pleasant gas to inhale, producing no irritation, nor yet giving rise to any 

 of those feelings of excitement which are induced by nitrous oxide gas, or 

 the vapour of chloroform. 



As the gas is often a cause of death in mines, I thought it was worth in- 

 quu-ing what percentage of it would prove fatal in the air. I therefore had 

 constructed a glass chamber through which an atmosphere charged with 

 known quantities of the gas could be passed. To my surprise I found that 

 even pigeons, animals peculiarly susceptible to the influence of narcotic gases, 

 could live in an air charged with not less than 35 per cent, of the gas for the 

 space of half an hour, while I could myself inhale the air coming from 

 their chamber without anxiety. 



When by pushing the inhalation further death is induced, it is as a very 

 gentle sleep, so gentle indeed that it is dilRcult to say when the action 

 either of the circulation or of the respiration is over. The lungs are left 

 with blood in them, the heart has blood on both sides, and the blood itself 

 retains its natural character. The death is by the slow negation of breath- 

 ing. We may gather from these facts many important lessons in regard to 

 the risks and dangers of miners from firedamp. I should think it is almost 

 impossible that any body of men, or any men who were awake in a mine, 

 could be so entrapped witli fii-edamp only as to die in the absence of an ex- 

 plosion. In accidents where this seems to have occurred, I should imagine 

 that with the firedamp there is also evolved carbonic acid gas. I can, how- 

 ever, imagine after an explosion, when the mine becomes for a moment a 

 great vacuum, that there would be sufficient entrance of the gas to produce 

 a fatal atmosphere. In such case death would be prolonged, but as easy as 

 sleep ; two truths, which in cases of accident should inspire thankfulness and 

 hope — thankfulness that those who thus die for us suffer little, hope as to 

 the possibility of rescue which should not for days be abandoned. The best 

 direct means of recoveiy of those under the influence of firedamp is expo- 

 siu-e to heated air, with the administration of warm nourishing drinks, such as 

 milk. Alcoholics do decided harm. 



[From this point the author proceeded at length A\ath the descriptions of 

 the actions of chloride of methyl, the iodide, bromide, and acetate, methj'lic 

 ether, nitrite of methyl, and the nitrate, wliich we must very briefly record, 

 and pass to his researches on chloroform and its allies.] 



Chloride of Methyl. 



The chloride of methyl made by the direct action of hydrochloric acid on 

 methylic alcohol can only be conveniently used for physiological purposes, 

 as a gas, or as a gas saturating ether. It must therefore be administered by 

 inhalation to see its full effect. I took some of it by the mouth in solution 

 with ether, but the heat of the mouth prevented me from swallowing it per- 

 fectly. Inhaled Avith atmospheric air, in the proportion of 15 per cent, it 

 produces in all animals good ana}sthesia, without excitement and with excel- 

 lent recovery. Carried to the extent of causing death, the action of the 

 heart outlives the respiration ; the lungs are left with blood in the pulmonic 



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