CEREBRAL DEPRESSANTS. 131 



mucous membranes, it must always be given well 

 diluted, else it may cause a violent gastro-enteritis. 



Chloroform is much used in obstetrical practice to 

 control spasms and violent uterine throes when try- 

 ing to rectify false presentations; also to relax rigid- 

 ity of the OS in delayed parturition, and to relieve 

 after-pains. 



Inhalations of chloroform are frequently given to 

 relax and relieve intestinal spasms ; also in the re- 

 duction of intestinal hernia ; to relieve the spasm of 

 tetanus; to check the fits of chorea and epilepsy in 

 dogs ; to relieve spasmodic cough. Externally — as a 

 local anaesthetic, the same as cocaine; in liniments, 

 to rheumatic and painful swellings and joints. 



Chloral— Chloral (Chloral Hydrate) . 



Chloral itself is trichloraldehyde — (C2HCI3O) — an 

 unstable, oily, colorless fluid, formed by the action of 

 chlorine upon alcohol. Its hydrate, the official chlo- 

 ral — (C2HCI3O+H2O) — is seen as separate, rhomboid- 

 al, colorless, transparent crystals, slowly evaporating 

 on exposure to air, having an aromatic, penetrating, 

 and slightly acrid odor, a bitterish, caustic taste, sol- 

 uble in less than its own weight of water, in 4 parts 

 of chloroform; also in alcohol, ether, glycerin, fixed 

 and volatile oils. Its aqueous solution soon acquires 

 an acid reaction, but its alcoholic solution remains 

 neutral. It liquefies when rubbed with carbolic acid 

 or with camphor, and is readil37" decomposed by alka- 

 lies into chloroform and a formiate of the alkaline 



