334 MR. ALCOCK ON THE CHLORIDES 
Lime/^ is in the hands of every human medical practitioner, and 
we now introduce it, with pleasure and gratitude, to the notice 
of the veterinarian. 
We could have wished that he had not retained the word 
chloruret. It is, certainly, a literal translation of the French 
chlorure; but all English chemists have consented to term the 
combinations of chlorine with bases, chlorides, Mr. Alcock 
says, that these may be confounded with chlorates, the union of 
chloric acid with salifiable bases; but the slightest attention to 
orthogmphy or sound, or the most superficial knowledge of the 
principles of chemistry, would prevent this. Beside, tyros will 
be too apt to confound these chlorurets with the carburets and 
sulphurets, substances very difterently constituted. We adopt 
the term oxide to express the union of oxygen with a base, and 
chloride will best express the union of chlorine with a base. 
Mr. Alcock first speaks of the chlorides as disinfectants. The 
practitioner will best procure them from the manufacturer, and 
very cheaply, in the form of a concentrated solution. If this be 
diluted with ten times the quantity of water, and sprinkled two 
or three times every day on any dead subject, not only will the 
process of putrefaction be retarded in an extraordinary degree, 
but will be immediately arrested if it had previously commenced, 
and all unpleasant odour perfectly destroyed. 
A body was disinterred after the period of a month. The 
stench was insufferably noisome. A solution of chloride of 
lime was sprinkled over it: the smell was instantaneously de¬ 
stroyed—the surgeon was enabled carefully to examine the 
corpse—arsenic was detected in the intestines, and the murderer 
received the reward of his crimes. 
Mr. Alcock naturally applies this to the prevention of putre¬ 
faction in anatomical pursuits ; and he states that, by means of the 
disinfecting power of the chlorides, a subject may be preseiwed for 
several weeks, even in summer. 
After macerating for anatomical preparations, the removal of 
the soft parts from the bones is a disgusting and even dangerous 
business. If a sufficient quantity of the solution of the chlorides 
be poured into the vessel containing the preparation, all unplea¬ 
sant smell will be destroyed, and the bones, afterwards exposed 
to the action of the air, will assume a most beautiful whiteness. 
After examining the bodies of persons or animals who had 
been poisoned, or destroyed by diseases which ran fast to pu¬ 
tridity, the disgusting odour has for many hours adhered to the 
hands, in spite of every effort to get rid of it: but if the hands are 
washed with the diluted solution, and then with pure water, the 
purpose is instantly effected. Our clothes often embibe the 
