MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 179 



Dose. — The same as for ether, used as a stimulant and anti- 

 spasmodic. 



spiritus aetheris compositus — Compound Spirit of Ether. 



Well known as Hoffman's Anodyne, composed of ether 325 

 parts, alcohol 650 parts, etheral oil 25 parts. 



Dose. — The same as for ether. 



spiritus aetheris nitrosi — Spirit of Nitrous Ether. 

 Gommonname, Sweet Spirits of Nitre. — An alcoholic solu- 



tion of ethyl nitrate; it is a volatile, inflammable liquid of a pale 

 yellowish color, a fragrant ethereal odor and sharp burning taste ; 

 should not be kept on hand too long as it becomes strongly acid 

 with age. It is used as . a general stimulant, a febrifuge, anti- 

 spasmodic, diaphoretic, diuretic, and carminative ; large doses 

 are narcotic. 



Doses as a stimulant and antispasmodic. — Horse, 1 to 3 ozs. ; 

 sheep, 2 to 4 drs. ; dogs, 15 ms. to 1 dr. ; cattle 1 to 4 ozs. ; pigs, 

 1 to 2 drs. As a diuretic and febrifuge horses take from J4 to 

 1 oz. y 2 oz. is sufficient as a rule, every 2, 3 or 4 hours, usually 

 combined with other drugs for all of its purposes, in fever and 

 colic cases. (For a general fever mixture see under aconite.) 



Antagonists and Incompatibles. — Ether dissolves iodine, bro- 

 mine, corrosive sublimate, the volatile and fixed oils, many resins 

 and balsams, tannin, most of the alkaloids, sulphur and phos- 

 phorus ; the last two but sparingly ; as respects its stimulating 

 and anodyne properties, it is antagonized by arterial sedatives, 

 quinine, strychnine, picrotoxin, etc. 



Synergists. — Alcohol and its congeners, chloroform, arterial 

 stimulants, cerebral stimulants, etc. 



Physiological Actions. — Ether is anodyne, antispasmodic, 

 diaphoretic, anthelmintic ; a cardiac, respiratory and cerebral 

 stimulant, an anaesthetic and a narcotic poison ; one of the best 

 and quickest acting, diffusible, general stimulants, acting on the 

 heart reflexly from the stomach. 



It is a powerful secretory stimulant, acting especially on the 

 secretions of the stomach, salivary glands, and pancreas. On the 

 cerebrum and the motor and sensory nerves, its actions are simi- 

 lar to that of alcohol, but more prompt and less protracted; it 

 is eliminated quickly, chiefly by the lungs. 



