Hydriodic Ether, Iodide of Ethyl

(Chem.) A colorle uninflammable liquid, composed of iodine and ethyl, of a sharp, pungent taste, and a penetrating ethereal odor; sp. gr. 1-94; boiling-point 148° F.; sp. gr. of vapor 5-4. Form. C2H3I. At a red heat it is decomposed, giving off the purple vapors which are peculiar to iodine. When exposed to the action of the atmosphere for any length of time, it a umes reddish tints from the liberation of iodine, a change which may be easily prevented by introducing a globule of metallic quicksilver into the bottle containing it. It is nearly insoluble in water, but very soluble in alcohol, from a solution in which it is precipitated by the addition of water. It is also easily soluble in simple ether. When placed in contact with metallic zinc, the latter unites with the iodine, forming iodide of zinc, and leaving the radical Ethyl, in the form of a colorle gas, having a faint, ethereal odor, of a specific gravity of a little more than 2, and burning with a brilliant white flame. At the temperature of 37°, and under a pre ure of 24 atmospheres, it is reduced to a colorle , transparent liquid, which is soluble in alcohol. The isolation of this radical requires a temperature of a little more than 300°, Common ether is the protoxide of this compound, represented by the formula C2H2O, and alcohol is the same when hydrated, C4H6O2. Besides its use in the chemical laboratory as a reagent, it has within the past few years attracted the attention of physicians, especially in America and England, as a remedial agent, to be administered by inhalation, in many cases in which the use of iodine is indicated. It is given in doses of 12 or 15 drops, inhaled from a napkin or sponge. In these doses, it is a gentle stimulant, and anti-spasmodic, but in larger quantities, and when inhaled for a considerable time, it becomes a powerful anesthetic agent. It is said to be especially adapted to diseases of the lungs and bronchial tubes, and hence it has been most succe fully administered in cases of bronchitis, phthisis, asthma, catarrh, and their kindred diseases. It increases the appetite, produces an increased pulse, and is said to produce great vivacity of spirits, and activity of thought. When prepared with phosphorus, as by the first formula, it is sometimes nauseating to the patient, on account of remaining traces of that substance, but when prepared by the other method, and of pure materials, it is free from any such objection, as any exce of chlorine would be completely expelled by the degree of heat which is nece ary for distillation. The alcohol employed in its preparation should be of the purest quality, and espe cially should it be thoroughly deprived of all traces of fusel-oil, as is also indispensable in the manufacture of chloroform.