Compound spirit of ether, also called Hoffmann's anodyne, Hoffmann's drops, or aetheris spiritus compositus, is a solution of one part diethyl ether in three parts

alcohol Alcohol most commonly refers to: * Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom * Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks Alcohol may also refer to: Chemicals * Ethanol, one of sev ...

. It is used traditionally as an anodyne or as a

hypnotic Hypnotic (from Greek ''Hypnos'', sleep), or soporific drugs, commonly known as sleeping pills, are a class of (and umbrella term for) psychoactive drugs whose primary function is to induce sleep (or surgical anesthesiaWhen used in anesthesia ...

. Its use as a drug was introduced by Friedrich Hoffmann.T. Kleij: ''Zur Entwicklungs- und Herstellungsgeschichte der "Hoffmannstropfen" und ihrer Darstellung und Interpretation in den medizinischen Werken des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts''. Dresden, 2003.

References

Traditional medicine {{nervous-system-drug-stub