Text: 1. An all-prevading and permeating medium, formerly believed to exist and to transmit light and similar energy. 2. A compound formed hypothetically from H2O by the substitution of two hydrocarbon radicals for H. 3. Ethyl ether (C2H5)2O; a thin, colorless, volatile, and highly inflammable liquid. The ether of the U.S.P. contains 96-98% by weight of (C2H5)2O, the remainder consisting of alcohol and water; its specific gravity at 25°C is 0.713-0.716. Its chief use is as an anesthetic. Also called ethyl oxide, sulfuric ether, diethyl ether, diethyl oxide, although the United States Pharmacopoeia recognizes as ethyl oxide a less pure form of the substance for use as a solvent and other nonanesthetic purposes.

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