OBSERVATIONS ON ETHER AND CHLOROFORM. 487 
lities I believe it is endowed with, its benefits may be extended and 
its value recognised. That it has by some been over-estimated 
there can be no doubt. It has been used to destroy the tape- worm ; 
but I cannot imagine it is in such cases of any benefit. To a dog 
that died I gave it largely for several days. The animal must 
have consumed at least more than half a pint of ether ; but on 
opening it after death I discovered the ileum full of tape-worms, 
all of which were alive. It has also been employed as a substitute 
for alcohol during the last stages of fever ; but, so far as my expe- 
rience extends, its stimulative properties are not such as would 
warrant its being depended upon where the system was exhausted. 
Where there exists inflammation, either acute or chronic, of the 
abdominal viscera, when spasm is present, or when congestion 
either of the lungs or brain is established, ether, in my opinion, is 
of service. Wherever the pain is the predominant symptom, I 
have found it of the highest value, and know of nothing which is 
worthy to be compared with it. It seems to act by producing a 
certain degree of insensibility not amounting to unconsciousness, 
and thus permitting nature to struggle singly with the disease, with- 
out being at the same time exhausted by suffering the agony of 
the disorder. The relief which ether secures (and where not contra- 
indicated that relief is made more certain by combining it with 
opium) appears to allow other drugs a better opportunity of acting 
upon the original affection. The body reposes, and recovers from 
the irritability which anguish naturally induces, and which in its 
effects becomes no less dangerous to life than the disease itself. I 
always give it with the view of diminishing the pain, and I follow 
up dose after dose until the desired effect is obtained ; after that 
I lessen the amount, using only such quantities as I think are re- 
quired to keep up its action. While doing this, however, 1 seldom 
entirely rely upon it, but employ simultaneously those drugs which 
in my judgment are suited to the disorder. The advantage thereby 
secured is not small. The system is quieted; the strength is hus- 
banded; the animal enjoys a comparative rest, and Nature gains 
time to recruit her energies. If injury ever results from this me- 
thod of employing ether, it is occasioned through a false reliance 
being placed upon its stimulating qualities. My own belief is, that 
it possesses no property of that kind. So far as I may be qualified 
to speak, it is a potent sedative, acting immediately on the sympa- 
thetic system, and thereby indirectly affecting the other parts. 
Thus, congestion I view not as the consequence of a want of vi- 
tality, but as the excess of it, which constringes the capillaries. 
We do not meet with congestion save under circumstances which 
would warrant such a view. When consequent upon external 
injury, as in the instance of a bruise, the pain shews that the 
