This agent, similar to chloroform, was first proposed as an anaesthetic by Dr. B. W. Richardson. It is more agreeable to inhale, and less apt to produce after-sickness, than chloroform, but it is not less, and probably more, dangerous to life. Five or six deaths have occurred in the cases in which methylene bichloride was administered. Spencer Wells has constantly used it since it was introduced, without a single untoward result. But he employs a special administrator, and gives the vapor with a regulated supply of air. His apparatus consists of a mask closely fitting over the mouth and nose, connected by a flexible tube with a bottle containing the anaesthetic, and with a rubber hand-ball, which sends into the mask, with every contraction of the bulb by the hand, this quantity of air with the anaesthetic vapor. As no accidents have happened, and yet patients are kept narcotized for hours at a time, there can be no doubt of the security afforded by this method of conducting the inhalation. It were well if this plan were applied to the inhalation of chloroform as well as bichloride of methylene.

Authorities referred to:

Anstie, Dr. Francis Edmund. Stimulants and Narcotics, American edition. Aubert, Dr. M. P. Anesthésies mixtes par l'éther, la morphine et l'atropine. Lyon Medi-tale, January 14, 1883.

Boettcher, Prof. Dr. A. Ueber die Wirhung des Chloroforms auf das Blut. Vir-chow's Archiv, xxxii, 1865, p. 126.

Brinon, de, Dr. H. Anesthésie mixte par le chloroforme et la morphine. Ann. de Thérap., 1879.

Gcbler, Dr. A. Commentaires Thérapeutiques du Codex Medicamentarius, etc., p. 670.

Husemaxn, Dr. Theodor. Handbuch der gesammten Arzneimittellehre, zweiter Band, p. 1034.

Kohler, Dr. Hermann. Chloroform, Aether und die als Ersatzmittel des Chloroform empfohlenen Alkoholderivate zusammengestelle und besprochen. Schmidt's Jahrbücher, vol. cxlii, p. 209, and vol. cxlv, p. 305.

Lente, Dr. Frederic D. New York Medical Journal, vol. viii, p. 615.

Medico-Chirurgical Transactions. Report of the Committee, etc., to inquire into the Uses and the Physiological, Therapeutical, and Toxical Effects of Chloroform, etc., voL xxix, second series, p. 323.

Morgan, Dr. J. The Danger of Chloroform and the Safety and Efficiency of Ether, London, 1872.

Nothnagel, Dr. Hermann. Die fettige Degeneration der Organe bei Chloroformvergiftung. Berliner klinische Wochen., iii, 4, 1866.

Ibid. Handbuch der Arzneimittellehre, p. 125.

PÉtrequin, Dr. J. E. Nouvelles Recherches sur la Choix d faire entre la Chloroforme et l'Ether red., etc. Gaz. Heb., 4-6, 1867.

Reeve, Dr. J. C. American Journal of Medical Sciences, October, 1867.

Richardson, Dr. B. W. The Medical Times and Gazette, 1866-1871, various articles.

Sansom, Dr. Arthur Ernest. Chloroform: Its Action and Administration, Philadelphia, 1866.

Simpson, Sir J. Y. Anaesthesia, Hospitalism, etc., Works, American edition.

Snow, Dr. On Chloroform and other Anaesthetics, London, 1858.

Squibb, Dr. E. R. New York Medical Journal, April, 1871.

Trousseau et Pidoux. Traité de Thérapeutique et de Matiére Médicale, eighth edition, vol. ii, p. 301.

Verriet-LitardiÉre, Dr. Thése de Paris, 1879. Anesthésis mixte par le chloroforme et la morphine.

Authorities for ethyl bromide:

Chisolm, Prof. J. J., M. D. Maryland Medical Journal, vol. ix, No. 82.

Duval, Dr. M. A. Thése de Paris, 1881. Bromure d'éthyle comme anesthésique.

Levis, Dr. R. Ethyl Bromide as an Anaesthetic. The Medical Record, New York, March 27, 1880.

Nunnely, Mr. Thomas. Transactions of the British Medical Association for 1865.

PÉrier, Dr. Annuaire de Thérapeutique pour 1881, p. 62.

Terrillon, Dr. Bromure b'ethyle comme anaesthésique. Annuaire de Thérapeutique pour 1881.

Turnbull, Dr. L. Artificial Anaesthesia, Philadelphia, 1882.