95 



Ethers: Ethyl, Ethyl acetate, Ethyl nitrite. Amyl nitrite. 



Aldehydes: Paraldehyde. Methylal. Acetal, Sulphonal, Trional, Te- 

 tronal. 



Ketones: Hypnone. 



Esthers: Urethane. 



Acids: Butyric, Bromacetic, Chloracetic, Formates, Propionates, etc. 



Halogen Substitutions: Chloroform, Ethylene chloride, Ethylidine 

 chloride, Chloral, Buthyl or Croton Chloral, Chloretone ( Trichlorpseudo- 

 butylacohol), Chloralamide, Chloralose, Bromoform, Ethyl bromide, etc. 



Ethyl alcohol is the alcohol used for drink in the various alcoholic- 

 preparations. Chemically and pharmacologically alcohol is in suspicious 

 company, among chloroform, chloral, ethers, and so forth. Some prepara- 

 tions are solids, as chloretone, whose chemical name ends in alcohol. 



There is an almost endless variety of synthetics and new ones are 

 constantly appearing "Made in Germany" — and we are the best customers. 1 



One can scarcely speak of any as real "cures," but they are palliatives ; 

 they give ease from the ills of civilization. The more people are massed 

 under unsanitary conditions the greater the demand for them, indeed the 

 sanitary condition of any community can be estimated by the demand for 

 such remedies. 



In connection with this Methane series should be mentioned the Aro- 

 matic series ; among the chief are : Terepene, Menthol, Guaiacol, Resorc- 

 in, Phenacetin, Lactophenin, Sedatin, Phenocoll, Salicylic acid, Salicylates, 

 Salol, Aspirin, Salophen, Analgen, Antipyrine, Salipyrine, Hypnal, Cocaine. 

 Eucaine, Novacaine, Holocaine, etc. 



These have a reputation for relieving pains and aches variously re- 

 ferred to as rheumatic or neuralgic, including many forms of headache. 

 Although some are obtained from plants, the great majority are syntheti- 

 cally prepared from coal tar ; new ones are constantly appearing. 



As already mentioned, individuals differ greatly. Those who do not 



1 Twenty years or so ago, when engaged in work among the insane, I tried many of these prep- 

 arations. At times sheriffs who brought in new patients preceded me in experimenting, as where 

 alcohol was given to make obstreperous lunatics tractable; more than once patients were "dead drunk" 

 and of course offered no resistance. 



Chloral, paraldehyde and sulphonal, etc., were used when patients were restless and sleepless; 

 some readily acquired habits and demanded a "nightcap." Chlor form and ether were of course 

 used in surgical cases. 



One of the most interesting of the series is Amyl nitrite a vasodilator much more effective 

 than alcohol, acting almost instantaneously. Among the insane it was used in cases of continued 

 epileptic convulsions, often with doubtful results. 



