418 
HYDRIDE  OF  AMYLE. 
especially  of  those  which  exist  in  the  class  of  bodies  called  alco- 
hols, on  account  of  the  great  theoretical  and  practical  interest 
belonging  to  them  in  a  chemical  point  of  view. 
The  method  by  which  Dr.  Frankland  obtained  and  proved  the 
existence  of  amyle,  the  radical  of  amylic  alcohol,  was  to  heat  for 
several  hours  in  an  oil-bath  iodide  of  amyle  prepared  from  pure 
fusel  oil  by  the  simultaneous  action  of  phosphorus  and  iodine  on 
it,*  in  sealed  glass  tubes,  along  with  granulated  zinc  at  a  heat  of 
190°  C.  (374Q  F.)  and  then  distilling  off  the  products  of  decom- 
position. The  first  two-thirds  came  off  at  a  heat  of  about  80°  C, 
and  the  remaining  third  at  about  160°  C.  (320°  F.)  The  first 
distillate  on  rectification  proved  to  be  a  liquid  boiling  at  about 
55°  C.  (95°  F.),  and  on  acting  upon  the  liquid  with  anhydrous 
sulphuric  acid,  he  separated  a  carbo-hydrogen  polymeric  with 
olefiant  gas  (C10  H12),  and  on  then  distilling  the  part  unacted  on 
by  the  acid,  he  obtained  a  liquid  having  the  composition  (C10  H12), 
with  the  very  low  boiling  point  of  30°  C.  or  86°  F.,  which,  in 
place  of  having  an  unpleasant  odor  and  tar-like  taste  as  the 
mixture  had,  possessed,  on  the  contrary,  a  grateful  fruity  odor, 
and  was  tasteless. 
This  was  the  hydride  of  amyle,  whose  decided  and  energetic 
anaesthetic  action  Dr.  Simpson  has  just  discovered. 
It  is  a  clear  colorous  mobile  liquid,  and  is  the  lightest  fluid 
known,  having  the  very  low  density  of  .638  at  57°  F.,  and  a 
vapor  density  of  2.5.  It  is  very  inflammable,  and  burns  with  a 
brilliant  white  and  smokeless  flame.  It  is  insoluble  in  water,  but 
readily  soluble  in  alcohol  and  ether.  It  is  a  very  stable  com- 
pound, resisting  the  action  of  fuming  sulphuric  acid  and  the  most 
powerful  oxydizing  agents.  Its  rational  formula  is  (C10  H11  +  H), 
and  therefore  the  hydride  or  hydruret  of  the  radical  amyle. 
The  liquid  that  was  distilled  last  from  the  tube  at  a  high  heat 
*  The  iodide  of  amyle  is  a  colorless,  transparent,  heavy  liquid ;  density 
1.5.  It  is  not  readily  decomposed,  not  changing  color  even  when  kept  for 
a  long  time  in  diffused  daylight,  although  the  direct  rays  of  the  sun  decom- 
pose it  easily,  It  mixes  readily  in  all  proportions  with  oils  and  ointments. 
In  consequence  of  this,  and  the  large  quantity  of  iodine — two-thirds  of  its 
weight — which  it  holds  in  a  perfect  state  of  solution,  it  seems  to  us  to  be 
worthy  of  attention  as  an  outward  application,  and  all  the  more  that  the 
iodine  is  in  the  most  favorable  condition  for  being  absorbed. 
