Am'o&P87arm-}    Amylene  Hydrate,  a  New,  Hypnotic.  513 
eight  parts  of  water,  and  has  a  peculiar  ethereal  odor,  with  a  slight 
taste  of  camphor  and  an  after  taste  of  peppermint. 
v.  Mering  first  made  experiments  with  the  drug  on  frog.^,  rabbits, 
and  dogs.  He  found  that  in  all  these  animals  it  produced  a  condition 
resembling  deep  sleep.  After  some  hours  they  again  became  con- 
scious, and  seemed  none  the  worse  for  taking  the  drug.  If  rendered 
profoundly  unconscious  by  a  large  dose,  they  did  not  react  to  external 
irritation,  Doses  sufficient  to  cause  deep  narcotism  did  not  affect 
either  respiration  or  circulation.  Very  large  closes  arrested  both, 
paralyzing  the  respiratory  centre  and  the  heart's  movements.  From 
his  investigations,  he  concluded  that  amylene  hydrate  first  affects  the 
cerebrum,  but  that  very  large  doses  depress  the  functions  of  the  cord 
and  medulla. 
The  satisfactory  results  obtained  from  the  administration  of  moder- 
ate doses  in  the  lower  animals  led  v.  Mering  to  try  it  on  man,  and 
during  the  past  two  years  he  has  given  it  three  hundred  and  fifty 
times  to  sixty  patients,  chiefly  in  cases  of  sleeplessness,  connected 
with  nervous  disorders.  In  doses  of  fifty  to  eighty  minims,  he  finds 
it  to  be  a  useful  and  safe  hypnotic.  In  about  half  an  hour  after  its 
administration  it  induces  sleep  which  lasts  six  or  seven  hours.  Only 
in  four  cases  was  it  given  without  avail.  No  excitement  precedes  its 
soporific  effect  and  no  digestive  disturbance  is  produced  by  it.  When 
a  patient  wakes  out  of  sleep  brought  about  by  amylene  hydrate  he 
feels  perfectly  well.  In  only  one  case  was  some  giddiness  com- 
plained of. 
v.  Mering  has  given  the  drug  to  old  people  and  also  to  young 
children.  He  has  given  it  too  in  those  suffering  from  cardiac  weak- 
ness and  in  some  cases  of  lung  disease. 
The  new  hypnotic,  he  finds,  is  intermediate  in  power  between  paral- 
dehyde and  chloral  hydrate;  he  estimates  that  two  grams  of  amylene 
hydrate  are  equal  to  three  of  paraldehyde,  but  only  to  one  of  chloral 
hydrate.  It  is  less  unpleasant  than  paraldehyde,  for  its  taste  is  less 
disagreeable  and  it  does  not  cause  the  unpleasant  odor  of  the  breath 
following  the  use  of  paraldehyde.  Though  not  so  powerful  as  chloral 
it  is  safer,  since  it  does  not  depress  the  heart's  action.  Moreover,  it 
is  not  followed  by  discomforts,  which  at  times  occur  after  chloral 
hydrate.  In  only  one  case  was  a  little  giddiness  complained  of  after 
the  exhibition  of  amylene  hydrate. 
Amylene  hydrate  then  may  often  be  given  with  advantage  instead  of 
