380 CHLORAL HYDRATE 



cold fluid, it is prescribed for horses in doses of f i. ; for 

 cattle, fgij. ; for sheep and pigs, f3ij. to f3^i. ; and for 

 dogs, H\xxx. to f 3ij- 



The B.P. Tinctura Chloroform! et Morphinae Composita, 

 is composed of chloroform, tinctures of capsicum and Indian 

 hemp, oil of peppermint, hydrocyanic acid, morphine hydro- 

 chloride, glycerin and alcohol. Ten minims contain -J- T 

 grain of morphine, J minim dilute hydrocyanic acid, and 

 minim of chloroform. 



CHLORODYNE, a popular anodyne in human medicine, is 

 made from different formulae ; one is stated to contain 

 ten parts each of chloroform, ether, Indian hemp, and 

 morphine, two parts capsicum tincture and prussic acid, 

 three parts aconite and hyoscyamus tinctures, one part of 

 oil of peppermint, five parts hydrochloric acid, and fifty 

 of simple syrup. It is an effectual anodyne and anti- 

 spasmodic, frequently prescribed to relieve especially 

 gastro-intestinal and bronchial irritation. 



CHLORAL HYDRATE-CHLORAL HYDRAS 



Chloral hydrate, or trichlorethylidene glycol, CC1 3 .CH 

 (OH) 2 , is obtained by the addition of water to the liquid 

 chloral produced by the action of dry chlorine gas on 

 ethylic alcohol (B.P.). 



Chloral hydrate occurs in colourless crystals ; is neutral, 

 aromatic with a melon-like odour bitter, pungent, 

 and permanent in air. It melts at about 133 Fahr., 

 and boils at 205 Fahr. It is soluble in less than its 

 own weight of water, alcohol, and ether, and in four 

 parts of chloroform. Triturated with camphor it forms 

 a liquid. The caustic alkalies, and, in less degree, the 

 alkaline carbonates, decompose it into chloroform and 

 an alkaline formate. A hundred grains dissolved in an 

 ounce of distilled water, and mixed with thirty grains of 

 slaked lime submitted to careful distillation, should yield 

 not less than seventy grains of pure chloroform. Inferior 

 specimens, besides being of imperfect strength, are apt to 

 contain chlorinated organic impurities, which render them 

 yellow and cloudy, acrid and irritating, imperfectly soluble 



