134 Action of Chloride of Lime on Alcohol. 



ed the smell disappeared, and it was eaten. Whence he infers that 

 the odor from fish disinfected by chloride is not injurious to the health 

 like that from putrid fish. 



The baskets and other utensils used by fishermen may be depriv- 

 ed of the unpleasant odor which they contract, by the use of the 

 chlorides. 



10. In the exhumation and removal of bodies which have been for 

 some time buried. 



It is proposed that on occasions of this nature, when putrefaction 

 has doubtless occurred, after opening the grave, to water the exca- 

 vation and ground adjacent with a strong solution of chloride, to lay 

 a cloth wet with the solution over the coffin, to place the coffin in a 

 box on the bottom of which is a layer six inches thick, of a mixture 

 of fifteen parts of charcoal in coarse powder, and one part of dry 

 chloride of lime, and to surround the sides and top with the same 

 mixture. With such a precaution the exhumation and removal to a 

 great distance of a corpse long buried may be safely effected. — Jour, 

 de Connaissances Usuelles, tome 12, iJ. 65. 



Art. XXI. — Action of Chloride of Lime on Alcohol j by M. E. \ 



SOUBEIRAN. 



Translated for this Journal, by Prof. Griscom. 



The interesting substance formed by the action of chloride of lime 

 on alcohol, first manufactured, in considerable quantity, by Samuel 

 Guthrie, at his laboratory on Lake Ontario, and made known to the 

 chemists and physicians of this country through the medium of this 

 Journal, possesses properties which will render the following investi- 

 gation acceptable to our readers. 



"When chlorine is passed through alcohol, the products are hy- 

 drochloric acid, a litde carbonic acid, a small quantity of a material 

 rich in carbon, and a peculiar ethereal fluid, constituted, agreeably to 

 the analysis of Despretz, of 1 atom of chlorine and 2 atoms of per- 

 carburetted hydrogen. 



In the supposition that the compounds called chlorures dioxides 

 are really combinations of chlorine with oxygenated bases, the same 

 products ought to be obtained by bringing the^n into contact with al- 

 cohol, the acids being saturated as fast as they are formed. 



