ON  CHLOROFORM. 
291 
Dr.  Bartscher*  ascribes  the  bad  effects  of  chloroform  to  its 
spontaneous  decomposition,,  even  if  originally  pure,  in  the  course 
of  two  to  three  months,  in  consequence  of  which  muriatic  acid, 
alcohol,  and  chloride  of  ethylene  is  then  found  in  it.  He  de- 
mands that  before  it  is  used  for  inhalation,  chloroform  must  be 
examined,  and,  if  necessary,  rectified  ;  also  that  it  be  preserved 
in  a  dark  bottle,  kept  in  a  dark  place. 
Subsequently  Hagerf  insisted  that  pure  chloroform  is  not 
decomposed  by  sunlight.  Not  having  seen  this  paper,  I  am  not 
able  to  tell  upon  what  grounds  he  makes  this  assertion. 
Professor  WiggersJ  has  kept  chloroform  in  a  shady  place  un- 
altered for  more  than  fifteen  years ;  it  had  been  prepared  by 
himself  from  alcohol,  and  was  purified  by  treatment  with  con- 
centrated sulphuric  acid.  He  further  remarks  :  "  It  may  be 
considered  proven  that  a  well-prepared,  pure  chloroform,  of  the 
formula  C2  H  Cl3,  is  not  altered  on  keeping  if  it  is  guarded 
against  sunlight,  and  likewise  carefully  against  daylight.  We 
ask  now,  how  and  from  what  materials  is  that  chloroform  pre- 
pared which  is  so  readily  decomposed  ?  Is  it  true  chloroform, 
and  does  the  decomposition  take  place  under  all  circumstances 
only  in  consequence  of  the  foreign  admixtures  ?  What  are 
these  foreign  admixtures,  and  what  products  are  formed  in  con- 
sequence of  this  spontaneous  decomposition  ?  To  answer  these 
queries,  would  it  not  simplify  the  inquiry  to  trace  such  a  chloro- 
form back  to  its  source,  to  ascertain  the  mode  of  preparation, 
and  what  admixtures  it  may  therefore  contain  ?" 
The  effect  of  light  on  chloroform  was  studied  by  Dr.  C. 
Schacht§  in  May,  1867.  The  chloroform  used  in  his  experiments 
had  at  18-5°  C.  (65-3°  F.)  a  specific  gravity  of  1*4960,  did  not 
react  with  pure  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  was  free  from  alco- 
hol, and  had  a  constant  boiling  point  of  67°  C.  (152*6°  F.) ; 
water  agitated  with  this  chloroform  was  not  affected  by  nitrate  of 
silver.  The  unvarying  boiling  point  and  the  silver  test  are  re- 
garded by  the  author  as  sufficient  to  prove  the  purity  of  chloro- 
*Ibid. 
fPharm.  Central  Halle,  1867,  No.  40. 
X  Jahresbericht  der  Pharmacognosie,  &c,  1866,  p.  329. 
§  Archiv.  d.  Pharm.  1867,  Dec,  213. 
