CHLOROFORM 161 



Paralytic. This period is characterized by progressive paralysis 

 of the centers in the medulla with total abolition of the reflexes, even 

 the lowest ones being depressed. This period should be avoided 

 unless it is desired to kill the animal. I'eces and urine may be 

 passed involuntarily, the respirations become shallow, labored and 

 then cease, the pupils are widely dilated. The pulse is slow, weak 

 and generally persists in normal animals after the respirations have 

 stopped. It is generally concluded that death in anesthesia is due 

 to paralysis of the respiratory center, although the heart stops so 

 soon after the cessation of respiration that it is immaterial which is 

 the cause of death. Both are much depressed and the weaker goes 

 first. 



General Uses for Anesthesia. To relieve pain, overcome 

 spasm and relax the muscles. For these purposes they are used in 

 surgical operations, in labor to check straining, to subdue the con- 

 vulsions of tetanus, strychnine poisoning, etc. ; to facilitate the reduc- 

 tion of fractures, luxations and hernia, and at the same time over- 

 come the pain of the operation. 



CHLOROFORMUM — CHLOROFORM 



Chloroform is a heavy, volatile, noninflammable, colorless liquid 

 of peculiar odor and burning sweetish taste, made by the action of 

 chlorinated lime on alcohol, or by treating acetone with chlorinated 

 lime in the same manner. The latter method is now preferred be- 

 cause the yield is better and the product much purer than that pro- 

 duced by the alcohol process. It is soluble in 200 times its volume 

 of water, to 4 per cent, in blood serum, and in all proportions in al- 

 cohol and ether. It should contain from 99 — 99.4 per cent, by 

 weight of absolute chloroform and from 0.6 — 1 per cent, of alcohol 

 to meet the standard of the United States PharmacopcEia. On long 

 standing or when exposed to sunlight or a flame, chloroform may 

 decompose with the formation of free hydrochloric acid, or the poi- 

 sonous carbonyl chloride, or free chlorine, which is very irritating. 

 Alcohol acts as a preservative since chloroform does not undergo 

 decomposition so long as there is any alcohol present to be oxidized. 

 Hence the pharmacopoeia specifies that the above amount of alcohol 

 must be present. 



Preparations and Doses. For internal administration. 



Chloroform. H. 3j— ij ; 4—8. D. TTl ij—xv; 0.13— 1.0. 

 Aqua Chloroformi (water) % per cent. As a vehicle only. 

 Bpiritus Chloroformi (6 per cent.). H. §j — ij ; 30. — 60. 



D. 3ss— j ; 2.-4. 

 Emulsum Chloroformi (4 per cent). D. 3j — iv; 4. — 16. 

 Linimentum Chloroformi^ composed of chloroform 30 parts 



and soap liniment 70 parts. 



