Appendix. 405 
4 
CHLORIC ETHER. 
Referring to the important communication of Mr. 8. Guthrie, up- 
on chloric ether, (p. 64 of this Vol.) J proceed to quote the passage 
from my Elements of Chemistry, Vol. II, p. 20, by reading which, 
Mr. Guthrie says, in his correspondence with me, that his attention 
was first directed to the subject; it is as follows— 
“(h) Properties—Resembles an oil, color yellowish, but white, 
when purified ; sinks in'water in distinct globules, which readily run 
together. Sp. gr. at 45° 1.22. By much agitation, ts diffused in 
the water, and partially dissolved, imparting to the water its own pe- 
culiar taste, which is sweetish, aromatic and agreeable, Taken in- 
ternally, it is stimulating and reviving. For this purpose, it is dis- 
solved in alcohol, which happens instantly by agitation in a vial, and 
the alcohol can then be diluted to any desired degree. is medicinal 
powers, have not been ascertained, but from its constitution and prop- 
erties, it is highly probable that it would be an active diffusive stimu- 
lant.” It is well known to practical chemists, that this ether is usu- 
ally formed, by mingling equal volumes of chlorine and olefiant gas, 
both of which are speedily condensed into the fluid form, but the 
process is troublesome, as only a small volume of fluid is obtained 
from a large volume of the gases. Still I have been in the habit, for 
many years, of preparing an alcoholic solution of this ether, diluting 
it with water to the proper degree, and then calling the attention of 
the medical students to its remarkably grateful properties as a cordial, 
suggesting at the same time the probability that it might prove a valu- 
able medicine. I am not aware, however, that this trial had been any 
where made, and probably the subject would have still slumbered, 
had it not been for the very ingenious, and far as I knew, original 
process of Mr. Guthrie, (p. 64 of this Vol.) 1 ave this day repeat- 
ed this process and obtained an alcoholic solution of the chloric ether, 
perfectly similar to that transmitted by Mr. Guthrie, and to that which 
I had been accustomed to prepare, in the way already indicated. 
Mr. Guthrie’s liberality having placed it in my power, ] have recently 
distributed several bottles among my medical friends, and the report 
as far as it has been received, is highly satisfactory. Dr. Eli Ives, 
Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, in the Medical 
Institution of Yale College, has, at my request, favored —_ with the 
annexed statement which is corroborated by one from his son, 
_ 
