Improvements in Preparations for Producing Local Anæstnesia.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Preparations for Producing Local Anæstnesia.
(A communication from abroad by LA SOCIÉTÉ CHIMIQUE DES USINES DU RHÔNE,
anciennement GILLIARD, P. MONNET et CARTIER, of Lyons, France, Manu-
facturers.)
I, GEORGE BELOE ELLIS, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn and Ellis, of 55 and 56,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For several years past readily volatilizable liquids such as ethyl chloride have
been employed to produce local anaesthesia by applying them in a fine jet or spray
to the part affected or to be treated. Anaesthesia is produced by the generation of
cold due to the rapid evaporation of the liquid, but the effect lasts for only a
very short time.
My correspondents have discovered by repeated experiment that the dura-
tion of the effect can be considerably lengthened by dissolving suitable slowly
acting substances such as cocaine in a readily volatilizable liquid such as ethyl
chloride and applying the combined medicaments to the part required.
This invention therefore consists primarily of preparations for producing
local anaesthesia such preparations consisting of suitable slowly acting substances
dissolved in suitable readily volatilizable liquids.
For example from 1 to 2 per cent. of cocaine dissolved in ethyl chloride produces
anaesthesia of considerable duration. When cocaine is applied subcutaneously in
the ordinary way its action does not take effect until after 5 or 6 minutes and
with some persons it causes unpleasant and even toxic by-effects. But when
applied externally dissolved in ethyl chloride according to this invention the effect
is instantaneous and when the action of the ethyl chloride ceases that of the cocaine
continues. My correspondents believe that the dissolved cocaine penetrates
into the dermis or true skin as this is the only way they can explain the
real and continued anaesthesia produced. They have never observed any toxic
by-effects.
Instead of cocaine other substances having a similar effect may be employed such
as eucaine &c. which may be brought into solution by addition of alcohol.
Instead of ethyl chloride, mixtures of the same with methyl chloride, or
other liquids of correspondingly low boiling point such as methylal may be
employed.

page_text: (A communication from abroad by LA SOCIÉTÉ CHIMIQUE DES USINES DU RHÔNE,
anciennement GILLIARD, P. MONNET et CARTIER, of Lyons, France, Manu-
facturers.)
I, GEORGE BELOE ELLIS, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn and Ellis, of 55 and 56,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
For several years past readily volatilisable liquids such as ethyl chloride have
been employed to produce local anaesthesia by applying them in a fine jet or spray
to the part affected or to be treated. Anaesthesia is produced by the generation of
cold due to the rapid evaporation of the liquid, but the effect lasts only for a
very short time.
My foreign correspondents have discovered by repeated experiment that the dura-
tion of the effect can be considerably lengthened by dissolving suitable local acting
substances such as cocaine in a readily volatilisable liquid such as ethyl chloride,
and applying the combined medicaments to the part required.
The invention therefore consists primarily of preparations for producing local
anaesthesia, such preparations consisting of suitable local acting substances dis-
solved in suitable readily volatilisable liquids.
For example from 1 to 2 per cent. of cocaine dissolved in ethyl chloride produces
anaesthesia of considerable duration. When cocaine is applied subcutaneously in
the ordinary way, its action does not take effect till after 5 or 6 minutes, and
with some persons it causes unpleasant and even toxic by-effects. But when
applied externally dissolved in ethyl chloride according to this invention the effect
is instantaneous and when the action of the ethyl chloride ceases, that of the cocaine
continues. My foreign correspondents believe that the dissolved cocaine penetrates
into the dermis or true skin, as this is the only way they can explain the
real and continued anaesthesia produced. They have never observed any toxic
by-effects.
Instead of cocaine, other substances having a similar effect may be employed, such
as eucaine &c. which may be brought into solution by addition of alcohol.
Instead of ethyl chloride, mixtures of the same with methyl chloride, or
other liquids of correspondingly low boiling point-below 30° C-may be
employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I
declare that what I claim is:-
1. As new products for producing anaesthesia, preparations consisting of a local
anaesthetic substance dissolved in a liquid the boiling point of which is at a tempera-
ture below 30° C.
2. As a new product for producing local anaesthesia, cocaine dissolved in a liquid
the boiling point of which is at a temperature below 30° C.
3. As a new product for producing local anaesthesia, cocaine dissolved in ethyl
chloride.
4. As a new product for producing local anaesthesia, cocaine dissolved in methyl
chloride.

page_text: 5. As a new product for producing local anaesthesia, cocaine dissolved in a
mixture of methyl and ethyl chloride.
Dated this 28th day of January 1898.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by Malcomson & Co., Ltd.-1898