Am.  Jour.  Pharm  ) 
Mar.,  1874.  fcuppl.J 
Metachloral,  etc. 
149 
cines  and  used  as  charms  for  the  cure  of  many  diseases.  In  some 
parts  of  India  the  juice  of  the  young  tender  leaves  mixed  with  oil  is 
applied  as  an  embrocation  in  cases  of  lumbago,  and  a  decoction  of  the 
root  is  a  reputed  cure  for  sore  lips,  so  that  whatever  may  prove  to  be 
the  value  of  the  areca  nut  as  an  anthelmintic  in  this  country,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  the  tree  is  much  esteemed  for  its  numerous  uses  in  the  East. 
— Pharm.  Joum.  and  Trans.,  Feb.  28,  1874. 
METAOH LORAL  AND  CAUSTIC  PENCILS  OF  CHLORAL 
HYDRATE. 
M.  Limousin  exhibited  at  the  Socie'te  de  Therapeutique,  Paris, 
some  specimens  of  metachloral  and  also  of  pencils  of  hydrate  of  chlo- 
ral. The  metachloral  had  been  obtained  by  treating  one  part  of  hy- 
drate of  chloral  with  three  parts  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  and 
washing  the  insoluble  product  obtained  as  long  as  the  washings  gave 
an  acid  reaction.  The  metachloral  was  afterwards  dried  with  chlo- 
ride of  calcium,  and  reduced  to  a  fine  powder.  The  caustic  pencils 
were  obtained  by  mixing  the  hydrate  of  chloral  with  a  small  quantity 
of  gum,  and  then  coating  them  with  a  slight  layer  of  paraffin,  in  order 
to  preserve  them  from  the  action  of  damp  air. 
Metachloral,  or  insoluble  chloral,  has  the  same  formula  as  anhy- 
drous chloral  (C2HC130),  of  which  it  is  an  isomeric  modification.  It 
is  less  caustic  than  hydrate  of  chloral,  and  it  has  the  great  advantage 
over  chloral  of  not  attracting  moisture,  and  consequently  allowing 
the  treatment  to  be  confined  to  a  limited  surface. 
M.  Dujardin-Beaumetz  said  that  he  had  employed  metachloral  and 
recognized  in  it  considerable  advantages ;  he  preferred  it  to  iodoform, 
and  he  had  obtained  with  it  equally  satisfactory,  if  not  superior,  re- 
sults. Moreover,  metachloral  did  not  present  the  inconvenience  which 
resulted  from  the  penetrating  and  insupportable  odor  of  iodoform. 
M.  Beaumetz  added,  that  in  any  case  where  the  action  of  the  pow- 
dered metachloral  was  found  to  be  too  irritating,  its  energy  might  be 
mitigated  by  mixing  with  it  a  certain  quantity  of  lycopodium  or  other 
inert  powder.  He  added  that  he  had  used  the  pencils  of  hydrate  of 
chloral  with  advantage  for  the  superficial  cauterization  of  certain  ul- 
cerations. He  also  introduced  them  into  the  natural  cavities,  or  into 
the  fistulous  passages  of  white  tumors,  to  obtain  the  diminution  and 
sometimes  the  cessation  of  local  pain. — Pharm.  Joum.  and  Trans., 
Feb.  21,  1874. 
