ETHER AS AN ANÆSTHETIC.[3] BY DR. A. C. KELLOGG, DECORAH, IA. For over a quarter of a century ether, as an anæsthetic, has stood at the front of all anæsthetics, as the safest, most reliable agent to use in all surgical operations. Being a faithful advocate of this time-tried friend, which has done so much for humanity, a brief description of its qualities and effects will constitute the theme of this paper. Sulphuric ether is prepared by distilling alcohol with sulphuric acid. For many years after its first discovery the profession were not aware of its anæsthetic properties, but looked upon it as a mere chemical curiosity. Amusing incidents are related of many who inhaled it for the exhilarating and intoxicating effects it produced. But to the late Dr. Horace Wells is probably due the gratitude we truly feel for giving to the profession its true anæsthetic properties, in the painless performance of all surgical operations, no matter how severe. Since that date it is used almost exclusively in all the leading hospitals, medical and dental colleges throughout the land. Very few deaths have been reported from its administration, and, indeed, if that proper care and knowledge of the agent be used, together with a pure article, and an intelligent understanding of the pathological condition of the patient, the death rate would sink to a minimum, and I doubt not that if a death should occur, after all these precautions, its true reason might find an explanation in some other cause. If it is desired to anæsthetize a patient, the most important thing to consider is the possession of a pure article of _ether_. There are several reliable makes. Squibbs' sulphuric ether, for inhalation, being one of the most reliable for uniform purity and freedom from heavy oil of wine, acetic acid, fusel oil, sulphurous acid, or excess of water and alcohol. Every operator should acquire the knowledge of testing ether, if it contain any of these adulterations, using none for inhalation but the purest article that can be procured. Just here it might be well to state that pure sulphuric ether has a specific gravity of 0.725°, boils at 96° and has a density of vapor 2.586. This latter fact should be borne in mind, and when administered in the evening the lamp or light should be kept away from the inhaling apparatus and bottle, for ether is inflammable, several accidents being reported where this precaution was not observed. To insure the best results from ether, it should not be inhaled after a full meal. Dr. Turnbull recommends a biscuit or cracker, and a glass of wine or a tablespoonful of brandy, half an hour before, always avoiding for several hours previously the annoyance of a full stomach. Serious complications and deaths have resulted from lumps and particles of indigested food becoming lodged in the trachea and glottis, from the act of vomiting, as ether, with many people, produces vomiting, and a recent meal is often reproduced.