METHYL-ETHYLIC  ETHER. 
335 
and  boiling  point  of  920°  F.  as  the  solvent.  The  ether  is  charged 
with  the  gas  at  a  temperature  of  32°  F.,  and  the  compound  is  at 
once  bottled  and  firmly  corked  down.  It  should  be  kept  for  a 
time  before  being  used,  the  process  of  keeping  producing  a  com- 
paratively stable  compound.  In  using  this  compound,  which  he 
proposes  to  call  methyl-ethylic  ether,  the  author  at  present  em- 
ploys the  simple  mouthpiece  invented  by  Mr.  Rendle,  and  made 
merely  of  leather.  He  is  adding  to  this  a  reserve  bag,  in  order 
to  conserve  the  ether.  From  one  to  two  drachms  may  be  put 
into  the  inhaler  for  quick  narcotization. 
Dr.  Richardson  next  described  cases  in  which  the  methyl- 
ethylic  ether  had  been  administered  to  the  human  subject  for 
the  extraction  of  teeth  ;  in  eleven  cases  the  whole  operation, 
from  commencement  of  the  inhalation  to  the  complete  recovery, 
was  under  three  minutes  ;  in  several  cases  one  minute  was  suffi- 
cient, while  in  two  cases  forty-five  seconds  sufficed.  In  no  case 
was  there  spasm,  syncope,  or  asphyxia  during  inhalation,  or  any 
after  nausea,  and  in  all  cases  there  was  a  semi-consciousness,  so 
that  the  patients  did  what  they  were  bade  to  do,  remembered 
what  had  been  done,  and  yet  were  not  conscious  of  pain. 
The  author  next  described  the  action  of  methyl-ethylic  ether 
on  the  nervous  centres,  comparing  it  with  chloroform  and  other 
anaesthetics  containing  chlorine.  He  showed  that  this  ether  pro- 
duced no  excitation  of  the  nervous  centres  which  supply  the 
vascular  system  as  chloroform  does  ;  and  that,  consequently, 
there  was  absence  of  muscular  spasm,  of  contraction  of  blood- 
vessels and  of  syncope  from  fatal  contraction  of  the  heart.  When 
it  was  carried  to  the  extent  of  arresting  life  in  the  inferior  ani- 
mals it  produced  death,  by  paralyzing  the  organic  nervous  cen- 
tres. Tins  extreme  result  was  preceded  by  convulsive  action, 
similar  to  that  which  is  seen  in  death  from  hoemorrhage,  the  con- 
vulsion being  due  to  the  absence  of  arterialized  blood  in  the 
muscles.  So  well,  however,  did  the  heart  still  retain  its  power, 
that  in  one  case,  in  a  lower  warm-blooded  animal — a  guinea  pig 
— the  respiration  returned  spontaneously  m  pure  air  four  minutes 
and  forty  five  seconds  after  it  had  ceased.  No  fact  could  more 
definitely  speak  in  favor  of  the  safety  of  this  agent. 
In  conclusion,  the  author  said  that  as  he  had  confined  himself 
this  time  to  rapid  anaesthesia  for  short  operations,  his  remarks 
