Physical arid Physiological Properties of Tetrachlor ethane, etc. 217 



the toxic action had been more profound at high than at low temperature. 

 But the recovery, having once commenced, proceeded more rapidly at high 

 than at low temperature. We have not attempted to trace any quantitative 

 relation between temperature and rate of recovery ; we content ourselves with 

 noting in this connection that after, e.g., quinine m/2000, recovery began at 

 once at 19°, but was delayed for five minutes at 25°, in another case, i.e. after 

 alcohol njl at 20°, recovery began after 1 minute, and at 24° after 

 4 minutes. With a given toxic solution at a given temperature, the degree 

 and completeness of recovery in saline were influenced by the previous 

 duration of exposure to the action of the drug. Thus, e.g., in alcohol njl the 

 delay of recovery was 6 minutes after immersion for 12 minutes, and 

 10 minutes after immersion for 25 minutes. 



An Examination of the Physical and Physiological Properties of 

 Tetrachlorethane and Trichlorethylene. 

 By V. H. Veley, F.E.S. 



(Received November 23, 1909,— Read January 20, 1910.) 

 (From the Physiological Laboratory of the University of London, South Kensington.) 



Introductory. — Within the last few years chloroderivatives of the aliphatic 

 hydrocarbons, other than the familiar chloroform, have been used for various 

 purposes, occasionally with fatal results. It would, therefore, appear desirable 

 to apply physiological tests, in the first instance, to such compounds to 

 ascertain whether they might reasonably be scheduled as poisons, before they 

 are entrusted to the hands of unskilled and ignorant persons. As two such 

 substances, namely (1) one of the isomeric tetrachlorethanes, and (2) trichlor- 

 ethylene, came into my liands through Dr. Willcox, they were compared 

 with chloroform (taken as a standard) by the muscle method ; further, as the 

 physical data at least of the latter compound have been curiously overlooked, 

 the opportunity was taken of determining certain of these by instruments, 

 calibrated for previous investigations. 



Historical. — Symmetrical tetrachlorethane, sometimes called acetylene 

 perchloride, CHCI2.CHCI2, was first obtained by Berthelot and Jungfleisch* 

 from acetylene and chlorine gases in presence of antimony chloride ; the 



* ' Compt. Eeud.,' 1869, vol. 69, p. 542. 



S 2 



