8U On the Chemical Effects of Chloral Hydrate, 



Experiment 13. — Formic acid (obtained from ants) added to 

 blood gave rise to the formation of dark red globules and particles. 



Experiment 14. — Lactic acid added to blood yielded red par- 

 ticles ; these appeared to increase on the addition of prussic acid ; 

 the fluid or plasma appeared redder. 



Experiment 15. — Blood, with prussic acid added and then 

 oxahc acid, yielded red-coloured particles. 



Experiment 10. — Blood exposed to vapour of hydrate of chloral 

 gave red particles as before ; these lost their colour on addition of 

 oxalic acid. 



Experiment 17. — Prussic acid and ammonia were mixed to- 

 gether on a slide, and fresh blood added ; red particles made their 

 appearance ; no starchy bodies ; blood corpuscles and plasma redder 

 than usual. 



Experiment 18. — Blood, exposed to ammonia vapour, became 

 shghtly reddened ; prussic acid added in fluid fonn ; blood became 

 decidedly redder ; red particles and red plasma resulted. 



As far as these experiments had gone, I considered it reason- 

 able to conclude that the decomposition of hydrate of chloral in the 

 blood gave rise to the Hberation of formyl, or else formate of 

 ammonia. But what becomes of it ? Is it hkely to remain in a 

 free and uncombined state ? or rather does it not combine with 

 that important element in the blood — iron, producing a formate of 

 iron ; or perhaps ammonio-formate of iron ? 



These decompositions in a highly complex material, as blood, 

 are most difficult of explanation ; and it is here I feel we must 

 advance with caution. 



The next point to which I directed my attention was to ascer- 

 tain the action of hydrate of chloral upon a salt of iron ; and the 

 following experiments appear to me to support the view I have 

 just expressed. 



Experiment. — Chloral dissolved in a little water with ammonia 

 added, was followed by the decomposition of the former ; a crystal 

 of sulphate of iron was added, and the efiect watched under the 

 microscope ; red-coloured particles and amorphous masses of difife- 

 rent depths of tint, closely resembling those seen in the blood in 

 the forementioned experiments, made their appearance. 



A solution of ammonio-citrate of iron also gives similar results, 

 and somewhat similar also is the action of prussic acid and ammonia 

 conjointly acting on a salt of iron. 



Again, being aware from experiments perfoimed in times past, 

 that the presence of iron in vegetable tissues was demonstrable by 

 means of prussic acid and prussic salts, I proceeded to make the 

 following experiment, which, if it does not convince by its single 

 testimony, yet is to my mind highly satisfactory ; it is also one of 

 the most remarkable of the kind which I can adduce, in relation to 



