KEROSOLENE.
One of the lighter (probably the lightest) products,
obtained by distillation from the crude oil obtained from Albatite from Nova Scotia, Kerosolene being
the trade name given by the “Downer Kerosene Oil Company,”
Boston, Mass.; nearly or quite identical with “Gasolene,” the lightest oil from
petroleum.
Authorities.
1,
Dr. Ephraim Cutter, Am. Med. Times, 1861, p. 86, effects in a man
cleaning out the still; 2, same,
experiments on self and others, with about 4 ounces each trial; 3, same, effects in a man (on whom formerly a
large amount of ether had failed); 4,
Dr. G. P. Cady, Am. Med. Times, 1861, p. 250, effects; 5, Dr. H. J. Bigelow, Boston Med. and Surg.
Journ., 1861, p. 494, effects of inhalation; 6,
same, effects of inhalation in a girl; 7,
same, in a woman; 8, Dr. Bowditch,
Bost. Med. and Surg. Journ., 65, p. 48, effects of inhalation; 9, same, second case; 10, Dr. Andrews, same journal, p. 63,
inhalation; 11, Dr. Toothacker, same
journal, p. 202, inhalation; 12, Dr.
Wakefield, same reference, inhalation; 13,
Dr. Hodgdon, same reference, inhalation; 14,
A. Horr, Am. Med. Times, 1862, effects of inhalation; 15, same, in son, aged 19.
MIND.
►
As you breathe the vapor you seem to float away into a wavy maze, with a
sense of complete loneliness; there appears to be but one object in the
inverse, and that object is yourself; on recovery the first thing seen
is deemed the next only existence in the universe; it takes some little
time to regain all the faculties, [2].
► He began to laugh and opened his
mouth, in a minute or two recovered his sensibilities; he knew nothing
of the extraction except by the blood in his mouth; he was very lively
and “chipper,” and expressed himself as having had a pleasant
dream, [11]. ►
“Lost himself,” but was inclined to laugh and would not keep
still; a second time it was administered; both fingers were opened to
the bone, which he seemed just to feel; on coming to himself he said he
did not suffer anything, [12].
HEAD.
►
Peculiar lightness of the head, [8].
► Slight headache, [2].
EYE.
►
Eye a little unnaturally open and staring, [10].
FACE.
►
Countenance flushed, [10]. ► Momentary dusky redness of the face at
each convulsion, similar to that which occurs in epilepsy, [10]. ►
Certain degree of purple color, [7].
MOUTH.
[10.]
► Observed a taste similar to the
smell of gas-works, [15].
THROAT.
►
Slight smarting of the fauces, [15].
RESPIRATORY ORGANS.
►
More cough than I had expected, [6].
CHEST.
►
During the convulsions a moderate check of the respiratory movement, in
consequence of the rigid contraction of the muscles of the chest, [10].
PULSE.
►
Pulse somewhat accelerated (in one or two instances), [4]. ► Pulse
during forty-five seconds remained at 80 (normal), then increased during
two minutes and a half, reaching 100, and during the next minute
subsided to 80, and at the end of the sitting to 70, [15]. ► More
intermittence of pulse than usual in favorable anæsthesia, [6]. ►
Feeble and intermittent pulse, [7].
► Some diminution of the volume of
the pulse with the insensibility, [5].
EXTREMITIES IN GENERAL.
► Weakness of the limbs, [8].
GENERAL SYMPTOMS.
[20.]
► Moderate convulsions (after each of
three trials), [10]. ► More muscular rigor than usual in
favorable anæsthesia, [6]. ► He immediately succumbed to its
influence, [3]. ► Quickly went off to sleep, [13]. ► They
become partially or wholly insensible, but rapidly recover when brought
to the open air, and in ten or fifteen minutes are able to resume their
employment, [9]. ► Wholly insensible, [6]. ►
Complete insensibility, lasting several minutes, with some diminution of
the volume of the pulse, [5]. ► Became totally insensible; on being
withdrawn he expressed himself as having had a very fine
“drame,” [1]. ► Asphyxia, with its attendant spasm, [7]. ►
The insensibility to surrounding impressions was complete, although the
eyes were not closed; pinches and the prick of a pin were unnoticed, [2]. [30.]
► Entire insensibility to external
impressions; a sort of numbness is felt at first, and anæsthesia to
pricks and pinches occurs long before the person is insensible; it has
not produced sleep as occurs from the use of chloroform, but a kind of
trance in which the mind is still active; it acts purely as a sedative, [4]. ►
Beginning of anæsthesia in twenty-five seconds; in one minute and a
half from the first the napkin fell, followed by a few bursts of
laughter, then by full anæsthesia, which lasted one minute; in six
minutes more he was fully recovered, and walked deliberately out of the
room, [15]. ►
The effects were nearly similar to those he had often experienced from
chloroform, but with a greater feeling of buoyancy and less thrilling
noise in head, leaving no nausea nor giddiness. Half an hour after he
repeated the inhalation, breathing the vapor vigorously for thirty
seconds, and then ceased before any effects was perceptible. Immediately
the effect began, and continued to increase during fifty seconds, when
it gradually declined, and in two minutes more was entirely gone,
leaving a sensation or taste in the fauces and about the molars like
that from the contact of two metals in the mouth, which wholly subsided
in a quarter of an hour. Experiment repeated with like result, [14]. ►
The first impression is sudden, powerful, and pleasant; almost
immediately I passed into a state of pleasurable insensibility, which at
no time was perfect; at least there would be responses to the prick of a
pin, and the muscles were not quiet, although afterwards I had no
recollection of any such thing; I grasped the napkin on which the
kerosolene was found with my teeth so strongly that it could hardly be
taken away; the stimulus of the vapor penetrated the whole frame, even
to the tips of the fingers, [2].
FEVER.
►
Some sweating, [3].® 2000
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