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ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

the vapour of the etherial tincture of hemlock is occasionally useful inrelieving spasmodic affections of the respiratory organs, and liasbeenrecommended in phthisical cases.

(b.) External. —The principal external use of ether is to produce coldby its speedy evaporation. Thus in strangulated hernia it may be droppedon the tumour and allowed to evaporate freely : by this means a consider-able degree of cold is produced, and, in consequence, the lmlk of the partdiminished, whereby the reduction of the hernia is facilitated. Droppedon the forehead, or applied by means of a piece of thin muslin, etherdiminishes vascular excitement, by the cold produced from its evapora-tion, and is exceedingly efficacious in headache and inflammatory condi-tions of the brain. In burns and scalds it may also be employed as arefrigerant. If its evaporation be stopped or checked, as by covering itwith a compress, it acts as a local irritant, causing rubefaction, and, bvlong-continued application, vesication. It is used with friction as a localstimulant.

2. Pharmaceutical. —Ether is employed in the preparation of thecompound spirit of sulphuric ether. It is also used to extract the activeprinciples of certain drugs, as of lobelia, aloes, musk, &c. The solutions(none of which are contained in the London Pharmacopoeia) are calledetherial tinctures ( tincturce a thereat), or by the French pharmacologistsetheroles. Ether is of assistance in determining the purity of some medi-cinal substances, as of aconitina and veratria, which are very soluble in it.It is also employed in toxicological researches, to remove bichloride ofmercury from organic mixtures.

Administration. —It may be given in doses of from half a fluidrachmto two drachms:—a tea-spoonful is the ordinary quantity. This dosemay be repeated at short intervals. It is usually exhibited in somearomatic water, and frequently in combination with other antispasmodicsand stimulants, as ammonia, valerian, &c. It may be perfectly incorpo-rated with water, or any aqueous mixture, by nibbing it with spermacetiemployed in the proportion of two grains for each fluidrachm of ether(United States Dispensatory.)

Antidotes. —In cases of poisoning by ether the same treatment is tobe adopted as before recommended in cases of poisoning by alcohol.

O'leum JEthdreum (Ph. L.)— Ethe'real Oil.

History and Synonymes. —This liquid is commonly tenned heavy oilof wine, or simply oil of wine. Dumas ( Traite de Chimie, t. 5 me - p. 543),says it was known to Paracelsus , who designated it sweet oil of vitriol.Modem writers have given it various appellations founded on its sup-posed composition. Thus according to Mr. Hennell it is a sulphate ofhydrocarbon, —Dumas calls it sulphatic ether, —others a double sulphateof ether and hydrocarbon, —while Liebig tenns it ethereo-sulphate ofether-oil, the ierm ether-oil being applied by this writer to a fluid £ carbo-hydrogen.

Preparation. —The following directions for procuring it are given inthe London Pharmacopoeia. “ Take of rectified spirit two pounds, sul-phuric acid four pounds, solution of potash, distilled water, of each a fluid-ounce, or as much as may be sufficient. Mix the acid cautiously withthe spirit. Let the liquor distil until a black froth arises; then imme-