454 



Chloroform in the Blood of Animals. 



a slightly greater weight on drying than can be accounted for by loss of 

 water, either by crystallisation or hydration. 



In order to subject it to a still further test, 0*5 gramme of purified 

 phosphate of soda was mixed with 10 grammes of pure salt — these being the 

 approximate proportions in which these salts are stated to be present in 

 blood — and the mixture was heated on the bath water for several hours in 

 similar apparatus to that used in our experiments on blood. The copper 

 sulphate was then dissolved in water and the chlorine present was estimated ; 

 O0805 gramme of silver chloride was obtained. Had the reaction taken 

 place according to the following equation and gone to completion : — 



Na 2 HP0 4 + NaCl = Na 3 P0 4 + HCl, 



- 2 gramme of silver chloride should have been obtained. The experiment 

 was repeated by a student in the laboratory of one of us with similar 

 results. 



These results appear to us to be of some interest in connection with 

 Maly's theory as to the production of free hydrochloric acid in the organism. 



We are engaged at present in further experiments based on the same plan 

 of chlorine estimation, with a view to ascertaining the cause of anaesthesia 

 under varied physiological conditions, some of the results of which we shall 

 shortly be in a position to publish. 



We take this opportunity of expressing our thanks to the Government 

 Grant Committee of the Eoyal Society for assistance in carrying out this 

 work. 



