CHLORETONE — PARALDEHYDE 151 



odor and disagreeable acid taste. Its hypnotic action is very strong 

 but of short duration. In general the action of this drug resembles 

 that of chloral hydrate but it is less irritating to the stomach. It is 

 recommended as especially serviceable in trifacial neuralgia of man. 

 It is of no importance in veterinary medicine. 



* Chloretone (chlor-butanol or chloroform acetone) is a com- 

 pound formed by the addition of caustic potash to equal vs^eights 

 of chloroform and acetone. It occurs as a crystalline povs^der of a 

 camphoraceous odor, is sparingly soluble in cold water, freely so 

 in hot water, alcohol, ether, glycerin and the fixed and volatile oils. 

 It is used mainly as a hypnotic, local anesthetic, and preservative. 

 Its use as a hypnotic is almost entirely confined to laboratory animals. 

 Results are produced promptly and are very persistent, but it is not 

 suitable for work where it is desired that the animal recover. It may 

 be used as an antiseptic and anesthetic dusting powder on wounds 

 and as a preservative for certain solutions of organic composition as 

 adrenaline, cocaine. 



Paraldehyde is formed by treating aldehyde with dilute nitric 

 or sulphuric acid. It occurs as a colorless, volatile liquid with a 

 strong etherial odor and disagreeable pungent taste. It resembles 

 chloral in action but is not so depressant to the heart. Large doses 

 are apt to disturb digestion. The uses are similar to those of chloral. 

 Locally, it resembles ether and by its irritation of the mouth and 

 probably also of the stomach is a reflex respiratory and circulatory 

 stimulant. It is rapidly absorbed and soon produces sleep without 

 any appreciable disturbance of the medullary centers. Its chief 

 disadvantages are its unpleasant taste, irritant local effects and per- 

 sistence of odor and taste. It may be given in water or sweetened 

 water. It may also be given per rectum dissolved in water. It is 

 relatively non toxic. jSToel and Soutter (1913) recommended it 

 for intravenous anesthesia in man used as follows: From 5 to 15 

 mils each of paraldehyde and ether are dissolved in 150 mils of 1 

 per cent, saline infusion and injected at the rate of 5 to 10 mils per 

 minute. This produces a mild narcosis at once and deep anesthesia 

 in one minute, which ceases after stopping the infusion. The 

 anesthesia is followed by easy recovery or sleep. 



* Amylene Hydrate (dimethyl-ethyl-carbinol) a light, color- 

 less, oily fluid soluble in 10 parts of water. It has a similar but 

 weaker hypnotic action than paraldehyde. Its odor and taste are 

 also less disagreeable. 



* Dormiol (amylene-chloral) is a compound of amylene with 

 chloral which has been recommended as a hypnotic. It is a colorless, 

 oily liquid, of a camphoraceous odor, and cooling taste ; soluble very 

 slowly but freely in hot water ; miscible in all proportions in alcohol, 

 ether, chloroform and fatty oils. 



* Unofficial. 



