a ee 
Prof. B. Silliman, Jr. on Chloroform. 241 
under the name of “chloric ether,” as it is usually found in 
trade, is a very impure alcoholic mixture, which retains very 
few of the properties of chloroform, and is probably of no 
% y 
value in medicine, the characters of the alcohol being altogether 
dominant. 
The following process for producing chloroform, has been found 
most efficacious in the large way. About six pounds of dr 
bleaching powders are introduced into a copper still containing 
about four gallons of water, and having a capacity of ten or 
twelve gallons. Half a gallon of common alcohol (about eighty 
per cent.) is added—the materials are thoroughly mingled by agi- 
tation, and a cautious distillation commenced. A powerful con- 
ceptible decrease of volume. The distillation is continued until 
water ceases to precipitate the chloroform from its alcoholic solu- 
ion, and afterwards until so much of the excess of alcohol is re- 
moved as is judged best by the operator. The washings of this 
process, as well as the dilute alcohol, the product of the last sta- 
ges of the distillation, are all preserved for a second charge. The 
“caput mortuum” in the still I have found to contain a consider- 
able portion of chlorine, but not sufficient to produce any more 
chloroform by the addition of more alcohol; and the quantity of 
alechol above recommended cannot be much decreased, (although 
a decided excess is employed,) without contaminating the product 
With free chlorine, which especially for the purposes of inhala- 
lon, is very objectionable, and is not easily removed by the 
washing. ‘The solution of chlorid of lime and alcohol remaining 
after distillation, deposits on standing, an abundant crop of deli- 
cate silky acicular crystals, whose constitution has not been ex- 
amined. The proportions above named, with care yield six to 
eight ounces of pure chloroform. 
Chloroform prepared as above directed, has a specific gravity of 
1-48, and I have found no advantage in redistilling it from sul- 
