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394 DENTAL MEDICINE.
Medical Properties and Action.— Bromide of ethyl, like all other
agents of this class, must be administered with great care, and a
pure article employed. There is no doubt but that it is pleas-
anter to inhale than chloroform, exceedingly rapid in producing;
complete unconsciousness, and very evanescent in its action
;
but, from the fatalities attending its use, it is a dangerous agen'.
Like chloroform ethyl bromide destroys life by its effect upon the
heart ; on account of its being essentially poisonous owning to the
large percentage of bromine which it contains; and its poisonous
effect when not at once fatal is prolonged and dangerous to the
heart, and other vital organs, especially the kidneys. Its
poisonous effects are more pronounced when it is administered in
an upright or even half reclining position as for dental operations.
Introduced into the stomach, bromide of ethyl does not pro-
duce anaesthesia, as when absorbed by the respiratory organs, and
does not increase the pulse over its normal beat ; and in the
second stage, causes an intermission of the pulse every second beat.
Administration. — Bromide of ethyl when employed as an
anaesthetic is best administered in a folded starched napkin, so as
to cover the face, and having inside of it a soft linen handker-
chief. On the linen handkerchief one measured drachm of the
agent should be poured, and the patient directed to take long,
deep inspirations, or, what is better, to make prolonged and
forced expirations. In two minutes from the time of adminis-
tration of the first drachm, a second should be given, and this
should be repeated at intervals of two minutes. Like all general
anaesthetics, however, the quantity for inhalation differs accord-
ing to the susceptibility of the patient. One drachm (or in
some cases two drachms may be required, according to the
susceptibility of the patient) of the bromide of ethyl will gener-
ally, in from one to three minujes, produce an anaesthesia as pro-
found as that produced by an ounce of sulphuric ether. As it
produces an anaesthetic effect on the muscles of the throat and
upper parts of the pharynx, it is useful for operations on the
mouth and throat.
The effect of an anaesthetic, however, is to be more regarded
than the mere quantity of the agent poured upon a napkin or