CHEMISTRY. 



659 



hody, ill |>ioi)oitiou lo its complexity, of an indefinite number of struct- 

 ural names — a proceeding almiost tantamount to not assigning it any 

 particular name at all. Alrbough from their number and complexity 

 organic bodies can only be designated by names which do in some 

 measure describe and characterize them, the primary purpose of a 

 name is undoubtedly to designate and not to describe. Accordingly, 

 with a view to the prompt mental association of object with n;ime, brief 

 empiric names based on the origin and properties of bodies are, where- 

 ever practicable, to be prelerred to structural names. Isomeric bodies 

 may, to a large extent, be distinguished by means of significant letters 

 or syllables i)refixed to the name common lo the different isomers. But 

 the suggested use of the particular letters <x, (3. ;/, each in a special 

 sense, also a general resort to the particles "hydro," "oxi," and "hy- 

 droxi," as name components, and more especially the innovation of 

 substituting the word "hydroxide" for the long established word ''hy- 

 drate," are practices open to grave objection. (Eeportof British Asso 

 elation for the Advancement of Science, in Nature, xxxn, .538.) 



Ethyl-uretlimiej a new Hypnotic. — Carbamate of ethyl, or ethyl-ure- 

 thaue, CH2.C2H5.NO2, has been found to have the properties of a hv]) 

 notic. This compound is prepared by the action of aqueous ammonia 

 on ethyl carbonate, or on ethylchloro carbonate, and forms large tran> 

 l)arent colorless crystals, which melt below 100° C, and distill ac 180° 

 without alteration. It is soluble alcohol, ether, and water, to which it 

 (;ouimuuicates a taste suggestive of saltpeter. 



Experiments with ethyl carbamate were first made on animals by 

 Schmiedelberg; recently von Jaksch has given the drug to man in 

 doses of about 15 grains in over 100 cases. He finds it acts chielly on 

 the bram, having no appreciable influence ov^er the peripheral nerves. 

 It seems to be, therefore, a pure hypnotic. It causes a quiet and seem- 

 ingly normal sleep, leaving no unpleasant secondary eflects. {Deutsche 

 Merlicinal Ztg., September 14, 1885.) 



Ethyl Compounds of HypochJorous Acid (by Traugott Sandmeyer). — 

 lithyl hypochlorite, CIOO2H5, is easily obtained as follow^s: Chlorine 

 gas is passed into a solution of sodium hydroxide (1 part) in water (10 

 parts), cooled by ice, until absorption no longer takes place. This fur 

 nishes free hypochlorous acid and sodium chloride. 



NaOH+2Cl=NaCl+C10H. 



This is immediately placed in a separa-fcing funnel and mixed with one 

 l)art of alcohol ; the li(]uid becomes turbid and an oily layer separates. 

 This oil is drawn oft\ washed, and dried in contact with calcium chloride. 

 This ethyl hypochlorite ibrms a yellow, mobile, very volatile liquid 

 of strong odoi', and attacking the respiratory organs. It burns with a 



