Abstract: The method and system for the extracorporeal or extravascular treatment of blood employs diethyl ether for killing HIV cells in the blood. In practicing the method with the system, blood is withdrawn from one arm of a patient through a tubing to a container, e.g. a syringe barrel, where the blood is exposed to vaporized diethyl ether, which has been vaporized by heating, thereby to enable the diethyl ether to strip the viral envelope away from HIV cells attached to macrophages and dissolve the lipid layers thereof thereby to kill the HIV cells. The blood with ether is then passed through a manifold where a vacuum is drawn on the blood to remove most of the ether from the blood. The treated blood is then returned by a tubing and needle to the other arm of the patient. A blood thinner or anticoagulant preferably is given first to the patient orally or intravenously.

Abstract: A topical preparation for treating an epidermal area of a human being infected with Herpes simplex virus comprising a stable solution or emulsion of from approximately 30% by volume to approximately 50% by volume of anhydrous ethyl ether in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier oil of vegetable origin of about C.sub.6 to C.sub.20, having most of the free fatty acids thereof removed, said emulsion having a boiling point of at least 100.degree. F. The oils are preferably lauric acid oils. The method for treating in vivo an epidermal area of a human being infected with Herpes simplex virus includes the step of applying to the infected area in an amount sufficient to cover the infected area the topical preparation. In another embodiment of the method heat subsequently is applied to the area to which the topical preparation is applied.

Abstract: A topical preparation for treating an epidermal area of a human being infected with Herpes simplex virus comprising a stable emulsion having from approximately 30% by volume to approximately 50% by volume of anhydrous ethyl ether in a pharmaceutically acceptable coconut oil carrier having most of the free fatty acids thereof removed, said emulsion having a boiling point of at least 100.degree. F. The method for treating in vivo an epidermal area of a human being infected with Herpes simplex virus includes the step of applying to the infected area in an amount sufficient to cover the infected area the topical preparation. In another embodiment of the method heat subsequently is applied to the area to which the topical preparation is applied. In one preferred mode of this embodiment of the method the heat is applied approximately three minutes after the topical preparation is applied and the application of heat maintained for a period of between about 3 and 15 minutes.