Ethiops, Graphi′tic. Syn. Ethiops of plumbago; Æthiops graphiticus, L. From plumbago, 2 parts; quicksilver, 1 part; triturated together until the globules disappear.—Dose, 5 to 10 gr.; in herpes, and some other obstinate skin diseases.
Ethiops, Martial. Black oxide of iron, prepared by keeping iron filings under water, and occasionally shaking them. It is washed with water, dried as quickly as possible, and preserved from the air, to prevent further oxidation. Formerly much esteemed as a tonic.
Ethiops, Min′eral. Syn. Ethiops mineral; Æthiops mineralis, Hydrargyri sulphuretum cum sulphure, L. Black sulphuret of mercury, with excess of sulphur.
(Tyson’s.) Oxide of mercury (prepared by decomposing calomel with an equivalent proportion of liquor of potassa to which a little liquor of ammonia has been added) and flowers of sulphur, equal parts, triturated together. This is recommended as an efficient substitute for the old and uncertain preparation commonly sold under the name of Ethiops mineral. It is, however, of more than double
the usual strength, and should therefore be taken in proportionate doses. See Mercury (Sulphide).
Ethiops, Veg′etable. Syn. Æthiops vegetabilis, Pulvus quercûs marinæ, L. Bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus), burned in a close vessel till it becomes black and friable. Used in bronchocele, scrofula, &c. Like burnt sponge, it owes its virtues to the presence of a very minute quantity of iodine.—Dose, 20 gr. to 1 dr., or more, made into an electuary with honey or sugar.
E′THYL. C2H5. Syn. Ethyle. The hydrocarbon assumed to be the radical of the ether-compounds (ethyl-series). A body containing carbon and hydrogen in the proportions indicated by the formula of ethyl, 2(C2H5), has been obtained by exposing dry iodide of ethyl in sealed tubes for several hours to the action of finely divided zinc, at a temperature of from 320° to 338° Fahr. In this reaction the iodine of the iodide of ethyl combines with the zinc, and the hydrocarbon supposed to be ethyl is set free. On opening the sealed tubes and allowing the gas (which is a mixture of the ‘ethyl’ and certain secondary products) to pass into a freezing mixture, the temperature of which is kept below -9° Fahr., the ‘ethyl’ condenses to a colourless, mobile liquid. Hitherto no compound ether has been produced from the ‘ethyl’ thus prepared.
According to the beautiful theory of Liebig, ethyl is a ‘salt-basyle,’ forming ‘haloid salts’ with chlorine, iodine, and bromine; its oxide is ether, and the hydrate of this oxide alcohol. The compound ethers may be compared with ordinary salts in which the metal is replaced by the radical ethyl.
Ethyl, Oxide of. (C2H5)2O. Syn. Ether, Sulphuric ether, Æther (B. P.), Æther sulphuricus (Ph. E. D. & U. S.), Æ. rectificatus, Æ. vitriolicus, Æ. spiritus vitrioli dulois, L. A colourless, highly volatile, fragrant, inflammable liquid, obtained by distilling a mixture of sulphuric acid and alcohol. It was not known before the 13th century.
Prep. There are two methods employed for the preparation of ether. The one is by mixing the whole of the ingredients at once, and immediately subjecting them to distillation at a proper temperature; the other is by adding the alcohol in a slender streamlet to the acid, previously heated to the etherifying point. The former, though less economical, is the one more generally employed.