Ether, as anesthetic

Nitrous oxide (NjO), aiso caiied iaughing gas, was first used as an anesthetic in 1799, and it is still In use today, even though when used alone it does not produce deep anesthesia. The first use of an ether, diethyl ether, to produce deep anesthesia occurred in 1842, In the years that have passed since then, several different ethers, usually with halogen substituents, have replaced diethyl ether as anesthetics of choice. One reason unlike diethyl ether, which is highly flammable, the halogenated ethers are not. Two halogenated ethers that are currently used for inhalation anesthesia are desflurane and sevoflurane. 

The technical concentrated ether contains very smaH amounts of alcohol, water, aldehydes, peroxides, and other impurities (Table 5). The more refined grades, such as anesthetic ether, are obtained from technical ether by redistiHation and dehydration foHowed by alkaH or charcoal treatment. 

Mild burning of the eyes after acute exposure to either trow-1,2-dichloroethylene vapor or aerosol was reported by two subjects in a 1936 self-experimentation study. However, dichloroethylene has been used in combination with ether as a general anesthetic in at least 2000 cases with no evidence of ocular toxicity ... 

An effective anesthetic agent must be easy to use, quickly render the patient unconscious, and not produce any toxicity. Dr. William T. G. Morton first publicly demonstrated the use of ether as an effective anesthetic agent at the Massachusetts General Hospital on 16 October 1846 before a crowd of skeptical physicians. Raymundus Lullius, a Spanish chemist, discovered ether (CH3CH2)20 in 1275. Its hypnotic effects were soon appreciated (and enjoyed by some), but for many decades ether was only used to treat the occasional medical ailment. Even with ether, the success of surgical procedures did not improve until the introduction of antiseptic procedures and infection control some 20 years later. Ether was replaced by cyclopropane in 1929, which was replace by halothane in 1956. While anesthetic agents are desirable for the patient, exposure of hospital staff is highly undesirable and an important occupational consideration. 

Long introduces ether as an anesthetic Locock accidentally discovers bromides as anticonvulsants Lister pioneers use of phenol as a surgical antiseptic Liebreich discovers hypnotic effects of chloral hydrate Strieker uncovers analgesic properties of salicylic acid Guthzeit and Conrad synthesize a series of barbiturates Erlich pioneers concepts of receptor and chemotherapy ... 

Several doctors, who all claim the discovery of ether as an anesthetic, fight a bitter battle over priority to gain financial rewards. Their battle ends in suicide, prison, and untimely deaths. 

Fluorinated ethers have been widely tested as anesthetics,3 4 solvents and CFC substitutes and numerous toxicity data have been collected (Tabic 19). 

Although still used medically, at one time elher was ihe major anesthetic, for which it must be scrupulously pure In addition lo various side effects which may result from the use of ether as an anesthetic, it is a definite hazard in the operating room because of its explosive properties, particularly in enriched oxygen atmospheres. 

Starting in the mid-nineteenth century, important new synthetic drugs made their appearance nitrous oxide (1844), ether (1846), and chloroform (1847) as anesthetics amyl nitrite (1867) and nitroglycerin (1879) for anginal pain chloral hydrate (1869) for sedation and antipyrene (1883), acetanilid (1886), and acetophenetidin (1887)... 

Ethers, esters, and ketones are molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Ethers are colorless and have a sweet odor. Some ethers have anesthetic properties and are used medicinally. Enflurane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane are all ethers that are used clinically as anesthetics. Esters include ethyl and methyl acetate. They are used in various adhesives, gums, resins, waxes, and oils. Ketones are very effective solvents for fats, resins, and lacquers. Examples are acetone (the solvent in nail polish and nail polish remover) and methyl butyl ketone (widely used in paint thinners). 

This painting by Robert Hinckley depicts a public demonstration of the use of diethyl ether as an anesthetic at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in the 1840s. 

As prosperous as these old Philadelphia firms were, their preeminence was about to be challenged by an ambitious physician named Edward Robinson Squibb (1819-1900) (Figure 5.6). There is some irony in the fact that Squibb received his medical degree in 1845, the same year William T. G. Morton publicly demonstrated the use of ether as an anesthetic, because Squibb built his career on ether. Squibb s research set the standard for quality ether, exceeding even those set by the U. S. Pharmacopoeia In 1856 he gave the world a much-improved ether stiU apparatus capable of batch-producing ether of much purer and uniform strength.37... 

Ether Fortior (strong ether) An anesthetic. Inhaled and also used as a topical anesthetic. 

Morton had just given the first public demonstration of surgical anesthesia and had revolutionized the practice of surgery. The use of ether as an anesthetic quickly became widespread, and it is still used today occasionally along with newer anesthetics such as halothane, related gases, and barbiturates. 

Compounds carrying a difluoromethoxy group as a substituent play an important role in pharmaceutical chemistry [1] and in liquid crystals for display applications [2], Although most of these substances have an aromatic difluoromethoxy group, aliphatic difluoromethyl ethers also have important applications, e. g. as anesthetics [3]. 

Why have penthrane and enthrane replaced diethyl ether as a general anesthetic ... 

Because diethyl ether (commonly known simply as ether) is a short-lived muscle relaxant, it has been widely used as an inhalation anesthetic. However, because it takes effect slowly and has a slow and unpleasant recovery period, other compounds, such as enflurane, isoflurane, and halothane, have replaced ether as an anesthetic. Diethyl ether is still used where there is a lack of trained anesthesiologists, since it is the safest anesthetic to administer by untrained hands. Anesthetics interact with the nonpolar molecules of cell membranes, causing the membranes to swell, which interferes with their permeability. 

Ethene, 38, 167. See also Ethylene Ethers, 619-653, 954-958. See also Epoxides as anesthetics, 647, 649 crown ethers, 622-624, 644 H chemical shifts, 641, 647 infrared spectra, 641 mass spectra, 643 nomenclature of, 619—620 physical properties of, 622 poly ethers, 622-624 preparation of... 

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