Mr. King on tlie Preparation of Chloroform. 221 



the water with which it was washed gave no precipitate with nitrate 

 of silver. Its spec. grav. is 1*446. 



No. 3, chloroform which has been washed with distilled water, agi- 

 tated with chloride of calcium, and distilled with sulphuric acid. Its 

 spec. grav. is 1*4995.] 



I find it an advantage to remove the liquor which has been distilled 

 with the chloroform as soon as possible. 16 drs. of the distilled liquor 

 generally absorbed J dr. in 12 hours. If there has been a large amount 

 of alcohol distilled with the chloroform, it absorbs more. From these 

 trials the proportions of 8 oz. of hypochlorite of lime, or bleaching pow- 

 der, 24 oz. of water, and 1J oz. of alcohol, give the best results. If 1J 

 give 4, 2 ought to give 5J ; it only gives 5. 



Chloroform is a colourless oily liquid, having an agreeable ethereal 

 smell and sweet taste. It is very slightly soluble in water, but soluble 

 in alcohol and ether. It boils at a temperature of about 141°. Its spec, 

 grav. is 1*4995, or 1*5. 



There are several substances which, when inhaled into the lungs, cause 

 stupor or insensibility. We have nitrous oxide, (the stupifaciant effect 

 of which gas was discovered by Sir H. Davy,) composed of 1 atom of 

 nitrogen and 1 of oxygen. We have sulphuric ether ; composed of 4 

 atoms of carbon, 5 of hydrogen, and 1 of oxygen. 



In October last, Dr. Simpson applied to Mr. Waldie of Liverpool, 

 when in Edinburgh, to recommend an agent that possessed the properties 

 of sulphuric ether. Mr. Waldie advised the use of chloroform, which Dr. 

 Simpson tried, and found to be successful. At a meeting of the French 

 Academy, held on the 29th of November, 1847, it was stated that at the 

 time the stupifaciant influence of ether was observed, several attempts were 

 made to find some other agent capable of producing the same effect; 

 and at that time M. Flourens, Secretary to the Society, having made 

 some trials on animals, found that chloroform possessed the same power 

 of rendering them insensible. Chloroform is supposed to act on the system 

 in the same way as sulphuric ether. For an account of the action of 

 sulphuric ether, I refer to a paper read by Dr. Andrew Buchanan, at a 

 meeting of this Society on the 22d of February, 1847. 



Dr. Simpson says the superiority of chloroform over sulphuric ether 

 consists in its requiring a less quantity to produce the same effect, — its 

 action being much more rapid and complete, — its inhalation being much 

 more agreeable, — its perfume not being unpleasant, — and its odour not 

 remaining attached to the clothes. 



February 2. — The President in the Chair. 



Messrs. John Smith and John Knox were admitted members. 

 The following paper was read : — 



