AmASil8h7arm'}  MethylaL  199 
having  been  sufficiently  purified.  Last  year  with  a  perfectly  pure  speci- 
men, made  by  Mr.  Williams  especially  for  my  work,  I  endeavored  to 
anaesthetize  two  dogs  with  methylal  in  order  to  enable  Mr.  Mavorfthe 
veterinary  surgeon,  to  operate  upon  them  painlessly.  After  half  an 
hour's  inhalation  of  the  vapor  narcotism  was  not  produced.  The  fluid, 
was  then  injected  hypodermically  in  one  animal  to  the  extent  of  an 
ounce  dose,  upon  which  a  gentle  sleep,  or  rather  intoxication,  followed,, 
but  with  no  sufficient  anaesthesia  to  allow  of  painless  operating. 
In  my  report  of  1869  I  showed  that  methylal,  which  is  very  solu- 
ble in  water,  could  be  administered  by  the  mouth  when  diluted  with 
water,  or  by  hypodermic  injection,  and  I  have  prescribed  it  occasion- 
ally, as  a  mixture  several  times.  I  usually  begin  with  a  fluid  drachm 
dose,  mixed  .either  .with  glycerin  or  syrup  of  orange  flowers  and  dis- 
tilled water.    Example  : — 
Methylal,  pure  3  yj. 
Syrup  of  orange  flowers  £iv. 
Distilled  water  gyj. 
Mix.  To  make  a  solution  of  6  ounces ;  of  which  let  1  to  2  fluid 
ounces  be  taken  in  a  wine-glassful  of  water  as  directed.  The  dose 
may  gradually  be  increased  to  twice  the  above  quantity  or  more. 
In  action,  as  a  medicine,  methylal  lies  between  alcohol  and  anhy- 
drous ether.  It  quickens  the  action  of  the  heart  with  reduction  of  ar- 
terial pressure ;  it  makes  the  respiration  slow  and  deep  ;  it  induces  a 
tendency  to  sleep  ;  and,  it  is  a  sedative  to  pain,  but  not  to  a  very  deep 
degree.  On  the  whole  it  would  be  best  to  keep  it  in  the  group  of  an- 
odyne antispasmodics,  in  which  I  originally  put  it.  It  causes  very 
little  muscular  excitement  and  no  vomiting,  but  after  long  inhalation 
of  its  vapor  it  produces  a  free  flow  of  saliva.  As  it  mixes  well  with 
alcohol  and  with  ether  it  might  be  administered  with  either  of  these 
agents  ;  and  it  might  also  be  given  with  amyl  nitrite  for  the  relief  of 
colic,  asthma,  angina  pectoris  or  tetanus;  but  before  it  can  come  into 
general  use  it  must  be  reduced  in  price. 
Signor  Personali,  who  has  recently  been  experimenting  with  methy- 
lal, (see  Am.  Jour.  Phae.,  January,  1887,  p.  19)  seems  to  have  ar- 
rived at  results  similar  to  my  own ;  but  he  adds  that  it  may  be  used 
as  an  ointment  or  liniment  for  external  application.  It  is  true  that  it 
mixes  fairly  with  oil  and  with  lard  ;  but  as  it  boils  at  107°  Fahr.  I 
cannot  see  how  it  can  be  of  any  service  for  external  use,  except  in 
causing  a  slight  local  anaesthesia  by  cold,  from  evaporation. 
