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TRICHLOR TERTIARY BUTYL ALCOLOL. 335

synthetically by Willgerodt in 1881, and unaware of these ex-
periments, John Abel in 1891 discovered its value as a prac-
J.
tical hypnotic and anaesthetic.
Medical Properties and Therapeutic Action.—Experiments with
moderate doses of chloretone on animals caused a profound sleep
and complete anaesthesia which lasted for several hours ; and
very large doses induced anaesthesia which continued for four
days, without ill effects on recovery. It has no action on the
blood, and no toxic effect on the heart, and is supposed to be
decomposed in the body, as the largest doses failed to show anv
signs in the urine, and its use increased the chlorides in the urine.
It is a hypnotic and nervous sedative, its action resembling that
of chloral, but not depressing the heart or respiration, unless
excessive quantities are given ; it also acts as a sedative to the
stomach without irritating it. It is efficient in vomiting due to
irritation, and relieves the pain of gastric carcinoma. Donald
reports a case in which 120 grains of chloretone were taken in
the course of 24 hours, which caused a profound sleep lasting for
six days, without any bad effects except gastric irritability.
The one per cent, solution has marked germicidal properties,
and is used as a local anaesthetic to irritable ulcers, and infected
wounds. It is also effective as a local anaesthetic in minor sur-
gical operations.
Dose.—Of chloretone, gr. ij to x although gr. viij to xx have
been given in 12 hours, in the form of sugar-coated tablets of
3
grains each.
Dental Uses.-—For a local anaesthetic in the extraction of
teeth as an obtundent for hypersensitive dentine for the re-
; ;
moval of living pulps of teeth ; for relief of pain in setting
crowns and bridge-work ; the ethereal solution being employed
in removing pulps. It appears to possess all the good qualities
of cocaine and betaeucaine, without any of the objectionable
effects of either. Dr. M. Leo recommends a solution for extract-
ing teeth, prepared bv mixing 15 per cent, of alcohol with 85
per cent, of distilled water and adding enough chloretone to make
a saturated solution : also a solution made by mixing equal parts
by weight of ether and chloretone, for use as an obtundent in