230 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



fifty-five seconds he rolled upon his side, and in three and a quarter 

 minutes he was taken out dead. 



A half-grown cat, in a vessel of equal capacity, bore the vapor of 

 chloroform alone but thirty seconds before he fell on his side, and was 

 taken out dead in two minutes. 



A kitten, of the litter above mentioned, exposed to the vapor of 

 chloroform, became insensible in two minutes. It was taken out in 

 two minutes and twenty-three seconds and partially revived. It was 

 again returned to the jar, and in two minutes became insensible, but 

 continued to breathe slowly for nine minutes, when it was taken out, 

 and finally recovered. 



In all the above experiments the air in the jars was repeatedly 

 removed with the aid of a bellows. 



CHLORIC ETHER, CHLOROFORM, AND TINCTURE OF CHLOROFORM. 



THE following statement prepared by Dr. A. A. Hayes, of Boston, 

 at the request of Dr. Warren, and published in the Boston Medical 

 Journal, clearly sets forth the distinction between the various 

 anaesthetic agents, chloric ether, chloroform and tincture of chloroform. 



Chloric Ether. This substance is the product arising from the 

 action of hypochlorites of the alkalies, alkaline earths, on a large excess 

 of alcohol, much diluted with water. . It is obtained by distillation, 

 and when carefully prepared contains chloroform, chlorinated ether, 

 and alcohol. In its formation, a large quantity of acetic acid is pro- 

 duced, and unites with chlorine and the base of the hypochlorite used 

 in producing it. 



It is a permanent compound, possessing the grateful odor and sweet 

 taste of chloroform ; when evaporated from the hand, or clean linen, 

 it leaves no odor adhering to the surface. In this state it is efficient 

 and convenient for use, as an anaesthetic agent. It is indefinite in 

 composition, but when decomposed by mixture with two bulks of 

 water, it should deposit about one-third of its original bulk of heavy 

 oily fluid. The extended use of this substance by some of the sur- 

 geons of the Massachusetts General Hospital, has led to the attempt to 

 substitute for it, the tincture of chloroform. It will be seen that these 

 are not like bodies, and as it is more difficult to prepare chloric ether 

 than chloroform, the manufacture of the former will doubtless remain 

 in the hands of the skilful pharmaceutists. 



Chloroform. - - This substance, as a secondary product, is found 

 after many reactions, in which chlorine and hydrocarbons are present. 

 When obtained from hypochlorites and alcohol, the proportion of the 

 latter substance is very small relatively to that of the hypochlorite 

 used. After careful purification it is a definite compound of well- 

 known physical characters. There is, however, an important chemical 

 character recently observed, which should form a part of its history 

 it is decomposed by solar light. In the early stages of its changes, 

 the odor remains fragrant for some time, but is succeeded by a suffo- 

 cating and corrosive vapor, arising from the action of hydrochloric 



