370  Incompatibility  of  Chloral  Hydrate.  {^^ug^'isss''""'" 
if  possible,  every  night  for  a  week  preceding  the  expected  menstrual 
period,  or  at  the  time  the  menstruation  is  due,  and  until  it  makes  its 
appearance,  and  in  menorrhagia  or  metrorrhagia  in  smaller  quantities, 
every  night  until  the  desired  effect  is  produced. 
Permanganate  of  potash  in  pill  form  has  been  used  for  the  same 
purposes,  without  any  noticeable  effect,  and  was  very  objectionable  to 
many,  on  account  of  the  liability  to  act  as  an  irritant  to  the  stomach. 
The  binoxide  of  manganese  has  also  been  used,  without  effect,  on 
account  of  its  insolubility. 
This  oleate  is  highly  recommended  by  Drs.  Martin,  McArthur  and 
others,  who  have  used  it  in  their  practice,  and  I  would  like  to  encour- 
age others  to  give  this  valuable  remedy  a  good  and  faithful  trial. 
Chicago,  July  1,  1S85. 
OX  THE  INCOMPATIBILITY  OF  CHLORAL  HYDRATE 
IN  THE  PRESENCE  OF  POTASSIUM  BROMIDE 
AND  ALCOHOL. 
By  George  F.  H.  Markoe, 
Professor  of  General  and  PharniaceuUcal  Chemistry  in  Massachusetts 
College  of  Pharmacy.^ 
In  December,  1884,  the  writer  had  sent  to  him  a  bottle  containing 
a  mixture  and  a  prescription,  of  which  the  following  is  an  exact  copy: 
B .    Bromide  potass  
Chloral  hydrate  aa  ^iii 
Tr.  opii  et  camph  
Syr.  Zingiber  aa  ^iss 
M. 
Sig.  One  or  two  teaspoonfuls  in  half  a  wineglass  of  water  every  2  to  6 
hours.    For  sleep. 
The  claim  was  made  by  the  physician  that  the  pharmacist  who  dis- 
pensed the  mixture  had  made  a  mistake,  and  the  matter  was  put  into 
the  writer's  hands  for  investigation.  The  mixture,  as  received,  con- 
sisted of  two  layers,  a  clear  dark  brown  liquid,  floating  upon  a  light- 
colored  dense  liquid.  The  dark-colored  supernatant  liquid  had  an 
intensely  strong  taste,  in  which  the  characteristic  taste  of  chloral  pre- 
1  Read  before  the  Massachusetts  State  Pharmaceutical  Association,  Pitts- 
field,  Mass.,  June  4,  1885. 
