CHLOROFORM 223 



PUEFABATIOirs. 



Aqua Chloroformi. (U. S. & B. P.). 

 (Saturated Solution.) 

 Used as vehicle in cough and diarrhea mixtures for dogs. 

 Linimentum Chloroformi. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Chloroform, 300; soap liniment, 700. (U. S. P.) 



Spiritus Chloroformi. (U. S. & B. P.) 

 Chloroform, 60; alcohol, 940. (U. S. P.) 

 Dose.— a. & C, 5i-ii, (30-60) ; Sh. & Sw., 3ii-iv, (8-15) ; D., 3ss-i, (2-4). 



Action External. — Chloroform acts as a rubefacient if rubbed into 

 the skin^ or prevented from evaporation by bandaging. In evaporating 

 from the surface it produces mild refrigeration. Chloroform penetrates 

 the skin more easily than many other agents, and is employed for this 

 reason to aid the absorption of belladonna and other drugs used in lini- 

 ments. Chloroform possesses some local anesthetic action upon mucous 

 membranes, raw surfaces, or when rubbed into the skin. 



Action Internal. — Digestive Tract. — Chloroform is an irritant in con- 

 centration, but, properly diluted, stimulates the flow of saliva and in- 

 creases the secretions, motion, and blood supply of the stomach. Chloro- 

 form has a local anesthetic and antiseptic action in the alimentary canal, 

 and by its stimulant effect in restoring the normal state of nervous and 

 muscular tissue, relieves spasm, pain and flatulence in the stomach and 

 small intestines. 



Circulation. — Chloroform exerts an ever increasing depressing in- 

 fluence upon the heart muscle, its .ganglia, the vasomotor centres, blood 

 vessel walls, and blood pressure. 



Vasomotor depression leads to dilatation of the arterioles and leak- 

 ing of blood into the veins, with consequent venous engorgement (par- 

 ticularly of the abdomen), and arterial anemia. Failure of respiration in 

 chloroformization is secondary to cerebral anemia, and chloroform kills, 

 primarily by vasomotor depression. (Leonard Hill and Hare.) 



The ventricles dilate and all cardiac muscular contractility is lost 

 in fatal poisoning. Death, however, occurs almost invariably in healthy 

 animals during chloroform inhalation from respiratory failure associated 

 with circulatory depression. The heart usually continues to beat after 

 cessation of breathing. Death from syncope occurs occasionally, and 

 circulatory depression is greater and occurs more suddenly than with 

 ether. Rarely sudden death occurs in the beginning of anesthesia from 

 reflex inhibitory arrest of the heart produced by the inhalation of con- 

 centrated chloroform vapor. The degree of concentration is of the ut- 

 most importance. A great deal of chloroform may be given for a long 

 period if it is greatly diluted with air. It is not the amount but the 

 rapid absorption of concentrated vapor which kills. 



With ether the vapor may be greatly concentrated without danger; 

 with chloroform the difference between the necessary concentration for 

 anesthesia and that which means danger is slight. As chloroform anes' 

 thesia proceeds, the pulse becomes rapid from the depressing effect of 

 chloroform upon the vagus centre. 



Respiration. — Chloroform does not markedly affect the respiration, 

 when inhaled in proper dilution for an ordinary period, or when ingested 



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