SULPHURETTED  HYDROGEN  ON  CHLOROFORM. 
117 
those  existing  in  chloroform  is  sufficient  to  justify  the  belief  that 
the  oily  substances  are  a  mixture  of  paramylene  and  metamylene, 
with,  possibly,  traces  of  amylene,  though  the  greater  portion  of 
the  latter  would  probably  be  lost,  from  its  low  boiling  point,  with 
the  incondensible  gases  from  the  still  in  the  preparation  of  the 
chloroform.  It  is  not  likely  that  any  injurious  effects  could  arise 
from  the  presence  of  these  substances,  even  if  a  re-distillation  to 
remove  them  was  not  resorted  to,  since  their  slight  volatility  would 
prevent  their  vapor  from  being  mixed  in  any  perceptible  quantity 
with  that  of  chloroform. 
Philadelphia,  Feb.  14th,  1853. 
ON  THE  ACTION  OF  SULPHURETTED  HYDROGEN  AND  SELENI- 
URETTED  HYDROGEN  UPON  CHLOROFORM,  IN  PRESENCE  OF 
WATER. 
Br  A.  Loir. 
Jlction  of  Sulphuretted  Hydrogen. — If  sulphuretted  hydrogen  is 
passed  into  chloroform,  under  water,  there  is  formed  in  a  short  time 
a  copious,  white  crystalline  volatile  deposit,  of  a  most  unpleasantly 
strong,  garlicky  odor.  The  chloroform  disappears  completely  if 
the  gas  is  passed  into  it  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time,  and  the 
liquor  is  strongly  agitated.  No  gas  conducting  tube  becomes 
often  obstructed.  The  secondary  products  are  formed.  If  chloro- 
form is  placed  in  a  frigorific  mixture,  and  saturated  with  dry  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen,  there  is  formed  only  an  insignificant  amount 
of  the  crystalline  body,  and  which  no  doubt  is  formed  on  account  of 
the  imperfect  dryness  of  the  gas  and  apparatus,  but  if  water  is 
added,  immediately  the  crystalline  body  shows  itself  at  the  usual 
temperature.  The  perfectly  formed  crystals,  are  four  sided,  flat, 
long  prisms,  whose  base  is  inclined  towards  its  angles. 
This  body  can  become  very  hard  and  form  a  solid  mass,  if  the 
temperature  permits  it  to  be  pressed  for  a  sufficient  length  of  time. 
It  is  very  volatile.  Exposed  to  the  air  it  gradually  disappears. 
Placed  in  a  glass  vessel  it  sublimes  towards  the  upper  part  of  the 
vessel,  the  crystals  group  themselves  into  beautiful  ramifications, 
and  change  their  places  by  every  variation  of  temperature.  Its 
taste  is  lively,  garlicky,  then  burning,  resembling  chloroform.  It 
