igoy ~\ Wheeler — The Condensation of Cheorae 107 
posed to the light. It is decomposed by water into chloral 
and o-toluidine. It is soluble in cold alcohol, ether, acetone, 
chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, carbon disulphide and gla- 
cial acetic acid. It is soluble in hot ligroin, benzene and 
methyl alcohol. The pure substance melts at 80° and will 
melt repeatedly at that temperature. A bromo derivative is 
readily obtained in glacial acetic acid solution. It forms sil- 
very white plates which melt with decomposition in the 
neighborhood of 268°. 
Physioeogicae Action. 
We were led to a study of the physiological action of the 
trichlorethylidenedi-o-tolamine by an accidental observation. 
Mr. Jordan unintentionally got a small quantity in his mouth 
and within a few hours there followed a marked physiologi- 
cal action. A preliminary test has been made upon two rab- 
bits. Dr. William DeB. MacNider of this University kindly 
carried out the test for us in the pharmacological laboratory 
of the University of Chicago. A 5 per cent dilute alcoholic 
solution was employed. This was first used in lOcc doses, 
intravenously. It produced at first a slow heart action ac- 
companied by a slight fall in blood pressure. Following this 
initial change the respirations became accelerated, the heart 
action fast and the fall in blood pressure much more pro- 
nounced. Doses of 25cc given by the stomach caused the 
animal to become drowsy, inactive and imperfectly responsive 
to stimuli. The respirations were accelerated. One rabbit 
returned to a normal condition in six hours. The other ani- 
mal, receiving the drug by the stomach, died apparently from 
respiratory failure. A more complete study is under way 
upon a large number of rabbits. This study will be extended 
to other diphenamine derivatives of chloral. 
Chapel Hill, N. C. 
Oct. 16. 1907. 
