amethocaine, n. Pharm.
(æˈmɛθəʊkeɪn)
[f. ametho- (perh. f. Gr. ἀµέθ-υστος not drunken (see amethyst n.) + -o1, or a blend of methyl n. and amino-, elements of the systematic name) + *-caine.]
The hydrochloride salt of a diamino-ester which is used as a local anaesthetic for topical application, esp. in ophthalmology.
| 1943 Martindale's Extra Pharmacopœia (ed. 22) II. 528 Amethocaine hydrochloride, (Butethanol),..surface anæsthetic, formerly known as Decicain. 1962 Lancet 29 Dec. 1361/2 The method described..seems to permit..the use of 10 ml. of 4{pcnt} lignocaine in a patient who had previously sucked a lozenge containing an unspecified amount of amethocaine. 1971 D. Lambert in C. Bonington Annapurna South Face App. G. 299 Amethocaine is an anaesthetic, and our climbers carried it to enable them to open their eyes if they became snow-blind. 1987 M. J. Neal Med. Pharmacol. v. 16/2 Because of their toxicity, amethocaine and cocaine are now only used for bronchoscopy and ENT surgery respectively. |