1:2 



aromatic. This both Guthrie and Silliman supposed to be a 

 solution of the chloride of defiant gas, and called it chloric 

 ether. In reality, it was an impure spirituous solution of 

 chloroform. 



" In 1831, Soubeiran, and in 1832, Liebig prepared a liquid 

 by a similar process, and separated the chloroform. Dumas, 

 in 1834, purified it fully, and made an accurate analysis of it : 

 he found it to be composed of twelve parts carbon, one part 

 hydrogen, and 106^ parts chlorine, and named it chloroform, 

 from being analagous to formic acid in its composition, but 

 containing chlorine instead of oxygen. From theoretical con- 

 siderations, Liebig termed it perchloride or tercldoride of 

 formyle — iu chemical symbols, C 2, H CI 3. It is a colour - 

 less transparent liquid, of specific gravity nearly 1500, or 

 about 1| times the weight of water; it boils at 111 degrees 

 Falvr., the vapour having a specific gravity nearly four times 

 that of air ; it quickly evaporates at ordinary temperatures, 

 but does not burn easily ; it has a sweet taste and agreeable 

 smell ; is soluble in all proportions in strong spirit, but very 

 sparingly soluble in water, to which it communicates its taste 

 in a small degree. 



"To the best of my knowledge, from the result of many 

 inquiries, it seems to have been introduced into this country 

 as a medicinal agent, first in Liverpool, where indeed, in the 

 form of a spirituous solution, it has been more known than in 

 any other part of the country, and from which, I believe, the 

 knowledge of its therapeutic properties has extended. About 

 the year 1S38 or 1830, a prescription was brought to the 

 Apothecaries' Hall, Colquitt-street, one ingredient of which 

 was chloric ether. No substance being known there of that 

 name, having the properties of that with which the mixture 

 had been previously prepared, Dr. Brett, then the company's 

 chemist, in investigating the subject, found, in the United 

 States' Dispensatory, the formula for its preparation which 

 has been noticed above, and prepared some. Its properties 



