756 
PURE HYDRATE OF CHLORAL. 
The Chairman drew attention to several articles which had been sent for 
exhibition, including a specimen of tasteless cod-liver oil from Messrs. Fox, of 
Manchester, and a poison-bottle from Mr. H. C. Baildon, of Edinburgh, the 
peculiar feature of which consisted in its having an india-rubber cap over 
the stopper. 
PURE HYDRATE OF CHLORAL. 
Mr. Hanbury exhibited, at the request of Dr. C. A. Martius, of Berlin, a 
specimen of pure hydrate of chloral in transparent detached crystals, prepared 
by crystallizing the ordinary hydrate of chloral in cakes. Also a specimen of 
a compound of chloral with alcohol. 
Professor Attfield said that the production on a commercial scale of large 
clear crystals of chloral such as those now shown was a matter of some import¬ 
ance, as their appearance was to a great extent a guarantee of absolute purity. 
It was of no less importance that pharmacists should know that the light 
feathery masses of alcoholate of chloral might be met with in trade, for 
whereas the hydrate contained nearly 90 per cent, of chloral, the alcoholate 
only contained about 70. # 
Professor Redwood drew attention to some specimens which had been 
handed to him by the President, illustrating a subject which had been before 
the Society on several occasions, namely, Linimentum Potassii Iodidi cum Sa- 
pone. On previous occasions it had been suggested that probably some of the 
difficulties which had been experienced in making this liniment, might be over¬ 
come by using a soap made in the way suggested by Mr. Wood a short time 
ago, from oil of almonds—a soda soap, which would principally contain oleic 
acid, and, from the fact of its being a soda soap, there would be great facility in 
purifying it and making it perfectly neutral. One or two of the early attempts 
in the use of this soap had not been successful: one specimen exhibited, although 
perfectly gelatinous at first, after a little time separated, the solid saponaceous 
matter floating to the top, and the other part being perfectly fluid. Mr. Evans, 
however, stated that he had had some of this kind of soap made very carefully, 
—a specimen of which was on the table,—and that it had been used with per¬ 
fect success in making both soap liniment and linimentum potassii iodidi cum 
sapone ; samples of both of which were also exhibited. He admitted, however, 
that on exposure to cold it underwent a separation, but if that occurred, nothing 
more was necessary than to warm it and shake it up, when it assumed a gelati¬ 
nous consistence. It appeared, therefore, that this mode of preparing the lini¬ 
ment was in every respect the most satisfactory which had been suggested, and 
he certainly thought the liniment in this condition was more convenient for 
use than the more solid forms produced with animal soaps. There "was also 
this advantage, that soap made in this way was much more definite, and might 
be expected to be more uniform in its composition than any other. 
* Dr. Martius has since stated to Mr. Hanbury that Dr. Liebreich has shown alcoholate 
of chloral to be without therapeutic value. Dr. Martius promises further information, on 
these alcoholates—for there are several. 
