Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
April,  1918.  J 
Chlorocosane. 
297 
The  writer  hopes  that  comparisons  of  the  actual  disinfecting 
efficiencies  of  the  permanganate  and  chlorate  methods  will  be  made 
by  those  who  may  be  interested  in  the  practical  side  of  the  question 
and  that  the  chlorate  method  may  be  found  to  be  of  some  use. 
CHLOROCOSANE.1 
Chlorocosane  is  a  solvent  for  dichloramine-T,  which  is  pro- 
posed for  the  purpose  by  Drs.  H.  D.  Dakin  and  E.  K.  Dunham. 
The  method  of  preparation  is  as  follows:  Paraffin  wax,  preferably 
melting  at  500  C.  or  higher,  is  placed  in  round-bottomed  flasks  and 
heated  to  about  1200.  Two  flasks  connected  in  series,  each  con- 
taining a  half  kilo  of  the  wax,  may  be  conveniently  used.  A  rapid 
current  of  chlorine  from  a  cylinder  of  the  liquefied  gas  is  then 
passed  through  the  molten  wax  in  the  flasks,  each  of  which  is  pro- 
vided with  a  thermometer  and  the  necessary  glass  tubes.  The  tem- 
perature should  be  controlled  within  the  limits  of  I25°-I40°.  The 
first  flask  in  which  the  reaction  is  most  vigorous  will  require  but  little 
heating.  Chlorination  is  continued  until  the  contents  of  the  flasks 
have  increased  in  weight  45  to  55  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  wax 
taken.  It  will  be  found  convenient  to  complete  the  chlorination  of 
the  first  flask  and  then  remove  it,  and  transfer  the  second  to  its 
place,  putting  a  fresh  flask  of  paraffin  wax  after  it.  In  order  to 
avoid  undue  discoloration  of  the  product,  a  minimum  amount  of 
rubber  tubing  should  be  used  for  the  connections.  Wide  glass  tub- 
ing should  be  used  for  passing  the  gases,  and  the  ends  of  the  deliv- 
ery tubes  are  preferably  blown  into  bulbs  provided  with  a  number 
of  fine  orifices  to  promote  good  contact  between  the  gas  and  oil. 
Hydrochloric  acid  is,  of  course,  evolved  freely  during  the  reaction. 
After  the  requisite  amount  of  chlorine  has  been  absorbed,  the  oil, 
while  still  warm,  is  shaken  vigorously  with  5  per  cent,  of  its  weight 
of  dry  sodium  carbonate,  and  then  filtered  through  a  dry  fluted 
paper.  The  clear  oil,  which  has  a  light  yellow  or  sherry  color  and 
is  slightly  heavier  than  water,  is  then  ready  for  use.  It  possesses 
a  viscosity  intermediate  between  that  of  olive  oil  and  castor  oil,  has 
almost  no  odor,  and  is  perfectly  bland  when  sprayed  up  the  nose 
or  placed  on  skin  or  wounds.  Chlorocosane  at  room  temperature 
can  dissolve  from  8  to  10  per  cent,  of  dichloramine-T.    For  wound- 
1  British  Medical  Journal,  reprinted  from  The  Chemist  and  Druggist. 
