382 CHLORAL HYDRATE 



respiratory paralysis. The heart is arrested in diastole, 

 with the right cavities distended. There is no paralysis 

 of muscles or motor nerves. The drug is eliminated by the 

 lungs, skin, and kidneys. 



Toxic EFFECTS. Richardson, in an extended series of 

 experiments, found that fish and pigeons were narcotised 

 by one and a half to two grains ; mice by one-third of a grain ; 

 rabbits weighing eighty-five ounces, by thirty grains. One 

 hundred and eighty grains produce fatal effects in man, 

 but dangerous symptoms have occasionally been developed 

 by one-fourth of that amount. Dollar gave a horse suffering 

 from spasmodic colic two ounces in water ; the spasms 

 were speedily removed, but for twelve hours the patient 

 remained very dull and sleepy. Mavor gave a horse four 

 ounces in water ; in five minutes he fell insensible, sweated 

 freely, his muscles relaxed, his pupils dilated ; his pulse, 

 at first accelerated, gradually became normal, respirations 

 were quickened, until in an hour they numbered thirty-six. 

 The temperature, from 100 Fahr., fell in two hours to 95 f , 

 but two hours later rose to 97-J-. In half an hour he was in 

 a quiet sleep, lasting one and a half hours, when he at- 

 tempted but failed to rise, and shortly again slept, the 

 breathing being slow and heavy, the skin cold, the sphincters 

 relaxed. Four hours after receiving the draught he was 

 restless, shivering, but disposed to feed, continued in this 

 state for several hours, and suffered next day from bronchitis, 

 from which he gradually recovered. A healthy horse was 

 given four ounces in ten ounces of water ; in half an hour 

 he was restless but drowsy, passing faeces frequently ; his 

 pupils dilated. He continued in this state for fully three 

 hours, when he was slightly delirious, but gradually became 

 quiet. Eight hours later the effects had passed away. 



Frohner records that horses receiving, by the mouth or 

 rectum, three to four ounces, or intravenously six to ten 

 drachms, became intoxicated, staggered, fell, and lay un- 

 conscious for several hours with the muscles relaxed. Sleep 

 may be maintained by repeated doses, he states, for several 

 days, or even weeks. Nocard kept a horse affected by 

 tetanus under its influence for thirty days, administering 

 daily one and a half to two ounces. The lethal dose is 



