March 4,1971.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
703 
ancl finally the ascophores containing the sporidia, 
and all appertaining to Claviceps purpurea, Tulasne. 
The ascophores, or stalked bodies with globose 
purplish heads, are minute and 
delicate, several of them being 
often produced upon the same 
sclerotiuin. The globose head is 
the fruit-bearing portion. Nu¬ 
merous cells, with distinct walls 
(perithecia) are immersed in the 
substance of the head. Each of 
these cells contains a mass of 
long, narrow, cylindrical, trans¬ 
parent sacs termed asci, which 
are thickened at their apices. 
Each ascus enclosed eight hair¬ 
like sporidia, flexuous and deli¬ 
cate, slightly attenuated towards each end. This is 
the final and highest development which the fungus 
attains. A closely allied species is found on the 
sclerotium of reeds, and another on the sclerotium 
of Eleocharis ,—the latter, as far as we are aware, 
never having been found, except as a sclerotium, in 
Britain. 
This is a brief and rapid survey of the stages in 
the history of ergot. It would be an interesting 
and probably instructive experiment, for those who 
are only acquainted with Secede cornutum as one of 
the articles of materia medica, just to follow the plan 
we have indicated, and try the cultivation of the 
sclerotium. It is possible that the examination of 
the fresh condition of the Claviceps , under the micro¬ 
scope, may reveal a phase of vegetable life before 
unknown to them. Even as a mere curiosity, and 
nothing more, the labour is but little that is required 
to grow the ergot-fungus, and, should this be suc¬ 
cessful, an effort might be made to develope the kin¬ 
dred species from the ergot which is so common on 
Eleocharis ,—the success of the latter effort would 
add a third species of Claviceps to the British list, 
and tills would be some reward for the trouble ex¬ 
pended. 
THE TESTS FOR CHLORAL HYDRATE. 
BY C. H. WOOD, F.C.S. 
Having had occasion during the last few months 
to examine a number of samples of chloral hydrate, 
I have made a great many trials of the ammonia 
test described by Mr. Umney. This method pos¬ 
sesses the apparent advantage of simplicity; but, 
to ensure accuracy, several precautions which are 
somewhat tedious, must be carefully observed. Dr. 
Paul, in the paper recently published by him, has 
shown that, unless the mixture be warmed for a con¬ 
siderable time and frequently shaken, a result either 
too high or too low may be obtained. That exactly 
confirms my own experience. Moreover, the large 
quantity of material required for each operation, and 
the length of time (about 12 hours) which must elapse 
before the results are obtained, constitute consider¬ 
able inconveniences. I have therefore had recourse 
to another method for determining the yield of chlo¬ 
roform, which appears to me to possess several ad¬ 
vantages. A hundred grains of the chloral hydrate 
to be tested are introduced into a 4-oz. flask and 
dissolved in an ounce of water. Thirty grains of 
dry hydrate of lime are then added, and a cork, fur¬ 
nished with a long piece of glass tube, is fitted to 
the mouth of the flask. This tube is bent over just 
above the cork, so as to slant down and form a con¬ 
denser. It is surrounded with w r et blotting-paper 
during the experiment. The extremity of the tube 
is somewhat drawn out, so as to enter a graduated 
tube, which serves as a receiver. A gentle heat is 
then applied to the flask and the chloroform slowly 
distilled over. After a few minutes the heat is in¬ 
creased, so as to keep the mixture boiling, and con¬ 
tinued until about 100 grain measures have been 
collected in the receiver. By this means the steam 
thoroughly displaces and sweeps over the last traces 
of chloroform. It is only necessary to read off the 
volume of the chloroform obtained. Before taking 
the final reading, it is advisable to keep the tube in 
a vessel of water exactly at 00° F. A few drops of 
liq. potassae poured into the tube destroys the menis¬ 
cus of the chloroform, and enables the operator to 
read off very accurately. The whole process does 
not occupy a quarter of an hour; and, as far as my 
experience goes, the results obtained are very trust¬ 
worthy. If a larger quantity of lime be employed 
than the amount indicated, some inconvenience is 
experienced from the frothing of the mixture, but 
this is easily avoided. Milk of lime appears to ex¬ 
ercise no sensible action on chloroform. I have 
made several experiments in which known volumes 
of chloroform have been taken in the place of the 
chloral hydrate, and in every case I have obtained 
the proper amount back within about a single grain 
measure. The tube which I employ as a receiver 
was carefully graduated for the purpose. It is about 
ten inches long and a quarter of an inch in internal 
diameter. It was graduated by introducing a few 
drops of liq. potassae, and then running in pure 
chloroform at fi0° from an accurate burette, marking 
the tube with a file after every addition of ten grains 
Five such marks are a] 1 ia L^' 
tixc lourtli ancl tiitli 
measurement, 
quired. The 
uiuicu. xuc space . . , , , 
mark may be easily divided afterwards into ten equal 
parts. 
For the recognition of alcoliolate in chloral hy¬ 
drate I have always employed Lieben’s test tor 
alcohol, which answers the purpose easily and satis¬ 
factorily. It is best applied to the aqueous portion 
of the distillate accompanying the chloroform. If 
this supernatant layer be decanted into a test tube 
and warmed with 2 or 3 grams of iodine and a slight 
excess of liq. potassoe, a crystalline precipitate of 
iodoform will gradually form when only minute traces 
of spirit be present. 
As far as my experience goes, the alcoliolate is 
not, if it ever has been, an article of commerce. 
For several reasons it is desirable to take the yield 
of chloroform as a criterion of the quality of chloral; 
nevertheless it does not appear to me necessary to 
resort to this quantitative reaction in the ordinary 
examination of trade samples. 
The following simple tests, which are quickly and 
easily performed, constitute a sufficient guarantee of 
the purity of commercial chloral hydrate :— 
1. A small portion heated on platinum foil should 
entirely volatilize without leaving any visible residue. 
2. Twenty grains dissolved in a drachm of distilled 
water should form a perfectly bright and clear liquid 
A drop of nitrate of silver solution added should 
produce no turbidity. 
3. A drachm introduced into a test-tube furnished 
| with a cork, through which passes a thermometer and 
