328 
ON THE PURIFICATION OF CHLOROFORM. 
[The property of rosin to prevent the oxidation of fatty 
matter, has long been observed by apothecaries in reference 
to resin cerate ; but so far as we know, the fact has never 
been applied in the manner recommended by Prof. Olmstead. 
It has frequently been observed, in refitting ship medicine 
chests after long voyages, that the resin cerate remained 
free from rancidity, whilst all the other ointments were 
greatly deteriorated. The action of Benzoin and poplar buds 
in preventing lard and ointments in general from becoming 
rancid, as recommended by Deschamps, (American Jour. 
Pharm.,Vol. xv. page 260,) is probably referable to a similar 
cause. — Editor.] 
ART. LXXIV.—NOTES ON THE PURIFICATION AND PROPER- 
TIES .OF CHLOROFORM * 
By William Gregory, M. D., 
Professor of Chemistry in the University of Edinburgh t 
1. Chloroform has been prepared both from alcohol and 
wood-spirit. The latter has been used for the sake of cheap- 
ness ; but as it is a mixture of several liquids, all of which 
do not yield chloroform, it gives an impure product, in a 
proportion which varies much, but is always below that ob- 
tained from alcohol. There is therefore not only no advan- 
tage, but the contrary, in using wood-spirit, which is not 
after all, much cheaper than alcohol. 
2. But the chloroform from these two liquids, when fully 
* Although I am alone responsible for the opinions contained in 
this paper, it is my duty to state, that all the experiments and obser- 
vations mentioned in it have been made by me in concert with my 
able assistant, Mr. Alexander Kemp, of whose ingenuity and accu- 
racy I have had constant opportunities of judging. 
f Read before the Royal Society of Edinburgh, March, 1850. 
