The physical properties of this ether are mentioned on another page in connection with ether. As an anaesthetic, it was first known to Mr. Nunnely, of Leeds, and he first employed it in surgical practice in 1865. Dr. Turnbull gave an account of its properties, based on experimental and clinical evidence, in 1877, but the most extended trials of its anaesthetic powers were made by Dr. Levis, of Philadelphia, in 1879-'80. In the latter year two unsuccessful cases occurred, one in the hands of Dr. Levis, its chief promoter, and the other in the practice of Dr. Marion Sims, of New York. These fatal cases, and some crude physiological experiments, undertaken to prove that ethyl bromide is a heart-paralyzer, started a reaction against this anaesthetic, then beginning a promising career, and in a short time it fell into almost complete disuse. It has, however, valuable properties which should preserve it from neglect. To induce complete insensibility, from four to six grammes ( 3 j— 3 jss) must be administered rapidly. The odor is not unpleasant, and but little irritation of the air- passages is produced. If administered in full quantity, there is a very brief (scarcely noticeable) stage of excitement, and the period of rigidity is very short and not pronounced. The face is flushed, the ears red, the eyes injected, and the pupils are more or less dilated. The action of the heart is accelerated, and the pulse increases in force. The respiration is also somewhat quickened, and in some subjects becomes snorting or stertorous, but irregularity or arrest of the respiratory movements has not occurred. More or less embarrassment of breathing has been occasionally caused by an accumulation of bronchial mucus. It does not often induce nausea and vomiting; but women are more apt to be disturbed in this way than men. The duration of the stage of insensibility is brief and the awakening prompt, with little of the confusion of mind and excitement characteristic of ether and chloroform. As a rule, the patient wakes out of the anaesthetic condition with little distress of any kind.

In the fatal cases recorded, there are strong doubts in regard to the share of ethyl bromide in the result. In Dr. Levis's case the patient was far advanced in pulmonary disease, and was unfit for the administration of any anaesthetic. In Dr. Sims's case the death of the patient occurred a number of hours after the operation, which was a tedious one, requiring very protracted use of the anaesthetic. It is said that a strong odor of bromine pervaded the entire body of this subject. It is, however, in a high degree improbable that decomposition of the ethyl bromide takes place when it is inhaled.

In administering this anaesthetic the method pursued with ether is best. If given promptly, in sufficient quantity, and but slightly diluted with air, the stage of insensibility can be induced in about five minutes (Levis). It is not suited to operations requiring much time. It is, however, peculiarly well adapted for slight or brief operations of a very painful character, and for ophthalmic practice it is unequaled, according to Chisolm.

M. Périer states that he has used ethyl bromide very often as a local anaesthetic, instead of ether, and, he affirms, with great success. The method to which he refers is local anaesthesia as inaugurated by Richardson with the spray-douche. Among other distinct advantages over ether, ethyl bromide is not inflammable, and can consequently be used under circumstances prohibiting the former.

The inhalation of ethyl bromide has been utilized in the treatment of diseases for the relief of which the bromides have been given by the stomach. MM. Bourneville and Oilier have carefully investigated this action of ethyl bromide in hysteria and epilepsy. They find that hysterical seizures are promptly arrested, and that in epilepsy the daily administration of this remedy during a period of two or three months notably diminishes the frequency of the attacks. This practice might be advantageously extended to the treatment of severe chorea, whooping-cough, spasmodic asthma, hepatic and renal colic, etc. For these purposes, only sufficient ethyl bromide is inhaled to relieve the pain or spasm, or to induce sopor.