244 
rvEYIFWS. 
by Mr. M. B. Carter, at Cinderford, in the Forest of Dean, on the body of Mrs. Jane 
Salter, aged 54, wife of the Rev. Edward Salter, of St. Jude’s Church, Bristol. Mrs. 
Salter in 1864 showed signs of insanity, having attempted to commit suicide both by 
drowning and by poison. She had been placed in an asylum, but in a short time, ap¬ 
pearing to be quite well, she went to live with her mother, and in November last re¬ 
turned to her husband. At the time of her death Mrs. Salter was with Mr. Salter on a 
visit to Dr. Whatmough, at Cinderford; and on the night of September 1st she retired 
to bed apparently happy and comfortable. Early in the morning Mr. Salter was 
awakened by his wife’s hard breathing, and, asking what was the matter, she requested 
w'ater and complained of cramp ; immediately violent convulsions came on. Dr. What¬ 
mough was called, who found Mrs. Salter suffering from tetanus. The doctor went to 
bis surgery, but before he could return she was dead. A post-mortem examination was 
made, and the contents of the stomach analysed by Mr. Horsley, of Cheltenham; and, 
although no traces of the poison could be found, it was the opinion of three medical 
men that Mrs. Salter died from tetanus caused by strychnia ; and the jury found ac¬ 
cordingly, but under what circumstances the poison was taken, there was no evidence to 
show. 
REVIEWS. 
Das Ciiloralhydrat ein neues Hypnoticum und Anaestheticum und dessex An- 
wendung in der Medicin —eine Arzeneymittel-untersuchung von Dr. Oscar Lieb- 
reich, Chem. Assistent am Patholog. Institut, Privatdocent d. Heilmittellehre und 
Medicin. Chemie a. d. Uniyersitat zu Berlin. Berlin 1867. 8 vo. pp. 60. 
The principal portion of this pamphlet is devoted to an account of experiments made 
in order to determine the effects of chloral upon animals, aud to a report of trials made 
of it upon the human subject in the Berlin hospitals. From these investigations we 
gather that the action of chloral is very closely analogous to that of chloroform, and we 
are unable to perceive that its effects are manifestly superior. It is true that it admits 
of being administered by subcutaneous injection, and that in this manner it may some¬ 
times advantageously replace morphia. It has proved also to be a very powerful sedative 
in delirium potatorum. 
Though we have spoken of chloral, it is to be understood that the hydrate, called by 
the author Hydras Chlorali, is the substance which has been employed. Chloral itself 
is a liquid,—the hydrate a colourless solid, crystallizing in fine needles, which fuse 
together into a crystalline mass. If a little of the hydrate be placed at the bottom of 
a bottle it will gradually sublime on the sides in slender acicular crystals. It is com¬ 
pletely soluble in water, but after long keeping the solution exhibits a slight opalescence. 
The solution is neutral and is not precipitated with nitrate of silver. If the crystals 
are treated with oil of vitriol, a colourless oily layer will form on the surface and will 
speedily solidify. Treated with caustic potash, the aqueous solution exhibits a milky 
turbidity which disappears after some minutes, and drops of chloroform are then seen 
to have been deposited at the bottom of the vessel. Both hydrate of chloral and its 
solutions should be kept in well-closed glass-stoppered bottles. 
Hydrate of chloral cannot properly be administered either in the form of pill or 
powder, but only in solution. For its exhibition internally, Dr. Liebreich recommends 
the following formulse:—* 
As an ordinary hypnotic. 
v° 
Hydratis chlorali grana xxxviij 
Mucilaginis acaciae 
Aquas destillatae aa. 15 V 
Fiat haustus. 
^ We have translated them from grammes to English weights and measures, which will 
explain their somewhat uneven quantities. 
