Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
Aug.  1, 1872.  j 
Sulph-hydrate  of  Chloral. 
357 
be  dissolved,  and  obtained  in  a  crystallized  condition  on  the  sponta- 
neous evaporation  of  the  ether. 
The  preparation  of  atropia  by  this  process  is  as  easy  and  satisfac- 
tory as  from  the  root,  and  has  the  advantage  of  saving  labor  in  not 
requiring  the  leaves  powdered.  It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  extract, 
previous  to  its  treatment  with  ether,  has  the  consistence  of  grape 
sugar  syrup  ;  if  more  diluted,  a  portion  of  the  alkaloid  will  not  be 
dissolved  from  the  aqueous  liquid,  except  by  considerable  portions  Oi 
ether. 
Other  advantages  are  that  the  loss  of  alcohol  is  entirely,  and  that 
of  ether  almost  totally,  avoided,  the  loss  of  the  latter  liquid  occur- 
ring in  the  requisite  spontaneous  evaporation  of  the  alkaloid  solution. 
The  author  also  draws  attention  to  the  probability  of  obtaining,  by 
the  same  process,  the  alkaloids  from  the  leaves  of  hyoscyamus,  stra- 
monium and  aconite. — Journ.  de  Pharm,  et  de  OMm.y  1872,  June, 
417-422. 
SULPH-HYDRATE  OF  CHLORAL. 
By  M.  H.  Byasson  * 
If  anhydrous  chloral  be  submitted  to  a  current  of  dry  sulphuretted 
hydrogen,  at  ordinary  temperature,  the  gas  is  absorbed ;  and  if  the 
current  be  sufficiently  rapid,  there  is  a  sensible  amount  of  heat  pro- 
duced. In  a  short  time  the  liquid  anhydrous  chloral  becomes  nearly 
solid ;  and  in  order  to  complete  the  reaction  it  is  necessary  to  raise 
the  delivery  tube  so  as  to  be  level  with  the  surface.  At  the  end  of 
about  twenty-four  hours  the  reaction  is  terminated.  The  substance 
formed  is  completely  solid,  white,  but  presenting  on  its  surface  some 
portions  colored  reddish-yellow.  By  purifying  this  substance,  first 
by  distillation,  and  afterwards  by  crystallization,  from  ether  or  abso- 
lute alcohol,  pure  sulph-hydrate  of  chloral  is  obtained,  presenting  the 
following  characters:  It  is  white,  has  a  very  disagreeable  odor,  and  a 
peculiar  taste,  which  recalls  that  of  chloral  hydrate.  It  crystallizes 
by  slow  evaporation  of  its  solution  in  ether,  anhydrous  alcohol  and 
chloroform,  either  in  rhomboidai  plates  or  in  four-sided  right  prisms. 
It  melts  at  about  77°  C,  and  boils  at  123°  C,  under  a  pressure  of 
0-7385.  It  evaporates  similarly  to  camphor,  and  its  vapors  will 
darken  moistened  paper  impregnated  with  a  soluble  salt  of  lead  at  a 
*  Comptes  Rendus,  vol.  lxxiv,  p.  1290. 
