AMYL NI'TRITE. An extremely volatile, pale yellow, oily liquid, with an aromatic taste and an odor resembling bananas. It is formed by the action of nitric acid upon amyl alcohol (fusel oil). As it rapidly deteriorates, it is necessarily kept in "small, dark, amber-colored and glass-stoppered vials, in a cool and dark place, remote from lights." The last precaution is due to its inflammable nature. The drug is also put into closed glass capsules, commonly known as "pearls," which are so fragile that they can be crushed in a handkerchief when desired for use. Though occasionally administered inter nally, it is usually given by inhalation. A mod erate amount inhaled causes almost immediately flushing of the face, a feeling of fullness and pain in the head, rapid and strong heart action, labored breathing, and a very soft and full pulse. If continued, the head seems distended as though it would burst, and the other symptoms increase.
Within a few minutes all these symptoms dis appear. Poisonous doses cause pallor, irregular breathing, muscular relaxation, and death. Xanthopsia, or yellow vision, sometimes follows inhalation of amyl nitrite, but within a few minutes objects gradually resume their natural colors. Besides the marked diminution of arte rial tension, the drug causes a change in the blood, with the formation of what appears to be hemoglobin. The chief use of amyl nitrite is to relieve the attacks of angina pectoris. It is also valuable for aborting epileptic seizures, espe cially when there is an aura, or peculiar sensa tion denoting the approach of one of these. In spasmodic conditions, such as asthma, tetanus, or strychnine poisoning, it is used, and also as a rapidly acting heart-stimulant. See NITRO GLYCERIN.