■^"^Aug^i^s'dssr''}      Oxychloride  of  Carbon  in  Chloroform.  419 
without  discoloration,  but  its  solution,  when  evaporated  to  dryness, 
leaves  a  residue  more  or  less  decomposed.  The  salt  dissolves  readily 
in  hydrochloric  and  dilute  sulphuric  acids,  and  in  spirit  of  wine. 
Acetic  acid  acts  less  readily  upon  it ;  touched  with  a  drop  of  strong 
sulphuric  acid  it  detonates,  emits  a  puif  of  dark  smoke,  and  almost 
wholly  disappears.  On  iodate  of  quinine,  sulphuric  acid  produces 
only  a  slight  yellow  coloration,  which  vanishes  on  the  addition  of 
water,  the  salt  dissolving  and  forming  a  colorless  solution. 
The  original  paper  is  supplemented  by  the  medical  opinions  of  a 
number  of  physicians  who  state  that  they  have  found  the  quinine  iodate 
.and  bromate  valuable  remedial  agents. — Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans. ,  July  1, 
1882;  from  Bublin  Jour,  of  3Ied.  Sci.,  June  1882. 
THE  PEODUCTION  OF  OXYCHLORIDE  OF  CARBON 
IX  CHLOROFORM. 
By  J.  Regnauld. 
The  compound  incontestably  the  most  dangerous  by  which  chloro- 
roform  can  be  contaminated  is  the  oxychloride  of  carbon  (chloroxy- 
carbonic  gas,  phosgene,  etc.)  resulting  from  its  decomposition  when 
exposed  to  air  and  radiant  light. 
Previous  to  studying  the  physiological,  or  rather  toxic  properties  of 
oxychloride  of  carbon,  Messrs.  Regnauld  and  Roux  thought  it  would 
be  interesting  to  determine  the  exact  conditions  of  its  formation  in 
chloroform,  on  which  point  there  exists  a  difference  of  opinion,  since 
the  alteration  of  chloroform  can  only  be  prevented  when  its  true  cause 
has  been  ascertained.  They  now  publish  the  results  of  some  prelimi- 
nary experiments  in  which  the  slow  action  of  light  has  been  substituted 
by  the  more  rapid  influence  of  electricity  and  ozone. 
(1)  The  spark  from  a  Ruhmkorlf  coil  discharged  in  a  mixture  of 
cliloroform  vapor  and  atmospheric  air  immediately  gives  rise  to  a  large 
proportion  of  oxychloride  of  carbon. 
(2)  When  air  saturated  with  chloroform  vapor  is  caused  to  circu- 
late slowly  in  an  effluve  apparatus  the  chloroform  is  decomposed  and 
yields  a  gaseous  product  consisting  nearly  entirely  of  phosgene,  recog- 
nizable by  its  intolerably  suflbcating  odor,  and  its  conversion  in  contact 
with  barium  hydrate  into  barimn  chloride  and  carbonate. 
(3)  A  bull)  of  thin  glass,  full  of  chloroform,  and  sealed  at  the  lamp, 
was  phu^cd  in  a  recipient  whicli  was  first  exhausted  and  then  tilled 
