152 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§§ I74-I76. 
acid, a rose or red colour is produced ; (3) heated with an acetate and strong sulphuric 
acid, amyl acetate, which has the odour of the jargonelle pear, is formed ; (4) heated 
with sulphuric acid and potassic dichromate, valeric aldehyde is first produced, and 
then valeric acid is formed ; the latter has a most peculiar and strong odour. 
§ 174. Amyl Nitrite, Iso-amyl Ester Nitrite (CgHnNOa).—Boiling-point 97° to 
99°, specific gravity 0-870-0-880. Amyl nitrite is a limpid, and, generally, slightly 
yellow liquid ; it has a peculiar and characteristic odour. On heating with alcoholic 
potash, the products are nitrite of potash and amylic alcohol; the amylic alcohol may 
be distilled off and identified. The presence of a nitrite in the alkaline solution is 
readily shown b} r the colour produced, by adding a few drops of a solution of meta- 
phenylene-diamine. 
Sir B. W. Richardson and others have investigated the action of amyl nitrite, as 
well as that of the acetate and iodide ; they all act in a similar manner, the nitrite 
being most potent. After absorption, the effects of amyl nitrite are especially seen 
on the heart and circulation : the heart acts violently, there is first dilatation of the 
capillaries, then this is followed by diminished action of the heart and contraction of 
the capillaries. 
According to Richardson, it suspends the animation of frogs. No other sub¬ 
stance known will thus suspend a frog’s animation for so long a time without killing 
it. Under favourable circumstances, the animal will remain apparently dead for 
many days, and yet recover. Warm-blooded animals may be thrown by amyl nitrite 
into a cataleptic condition. It is not an anesthetic, and by its use consciousness is 
not destroyed, unless a condition approaching death be first produced. When this 
occurs there is rarely recovery, the animal passes into actual death. 
Post-mortem Appearances. —If administered quickly, the lungs and all the other 
organs are found blanched and free from blood, the right side of the heart gorged 
with blood, the left empty, the brain being free from congestion. If administered 
slowly, the brain is found congested, and there is blood both on the left and right 
sides of the heart. 
IV.—Ether. 
§ 175. Ether, Ethylic Ether, Ethyl Oxide, (C 2 H 5 ) 2 0.—Ethylic ether 
is a highly mobile liquid of peculiar penetrating odour and sweetish, 
pungent taste. It is perfectly colourless, and evaporates so rapidly 
that, when applied in the form of spray to the skin, the latter becomes 
frozen, and is thus deprived of sensibility. 
Pure ether has a density of -713, its boiling-point is 35°, but com¬ 
mercial samples, which often contain water (1 part of water is soluble in 
35 of ether), may have a higher gravity, and also a higher boiling-point. 
The ether of the B.P. should have a gravity of 0-72. The readiest way to 
know whether an ether is anhydrous or not, is to shake it up with a little 
carbon disulphide. If it is hydrous, the mixture is milky. Methylated 
ether is largely used in commerce ; its disagreeable odour is due to con¬ 
tamination by methylated compounds ; otherwise the ether made from 
methylated spirit is ethylic ether, for methylic ether is a gas which escapes 
during the process. Hence the term “ methylated ” ether is misleading, 
for it contains no methylic ether, but is essentially a somewhat impure 
ethylic ether. 
§ 176. Ether as a Poison. — Ether has but little toxicological im¬ 
portance. There are a few cases of death from its use as an anaesthetic, 
