74  Dispensing  Note  on  Chloral  Hydrate.  {AmfS;I^ 
its  low  boiling  point  render  its  application  easy.  Experiments  were 
made  with  a  dog  of  medium  size ;  the  mouth  was  kept  closed,  the 
inhalation  took  place  from  a  sponge  through  the  nostrils  so  that  a 
certain  quantity  of  air  was  likewise  allowed  to  enter ;  15  grms.,  in 
three  portions,  were  sufficient.  Comparative  experiments,  made  upon 
the  same  dog,  in  intervals  of  several  days,  with  chloride  of  carbon 
and  with  chloroform,  in  uniform  doses  of  15  grams,  lead  the  authors 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  last  two  liquids  act  with  greater  intensity 
than  the  new  substance,  which,  however,  should  be  used  with  the 
greatest  care  in  experimenting  upon  human  subjects. — Bull.  Therap. 
DISPENSING  NOTE  ON  CHLORAL  HYDRATE  * 
By  J.  G.  Plumer. 
There  have  been  many  suggestions  put  forward  respecting  the  dis- 
pensing and  dose  of  chloral  hydrate.  It  was  first,  I  believe,  intro- 
duced on  the  Continent,  and  has  been  given  there  in  doses  consisting 
of  only  five  grains,  principally  combined  with  simple  syrup  and  dis- 
tilled water.  But  in  England  it  is  given  in  doses  ranging  from  five 
to  fifteen  or  twenty  grains,  either  in  the  form  of  draught,  syrup  or 
mixture.  It  is  generally  prescribed  in  the  form  of  a  syrup  ;  tolu  and 
other  flavoring  adjuncts  being  employed  to  disguise  the  taste.  In  my 
opinion  the  Syrupus  Flor.  Aurantii,  P.B.,  is  the  best  form  of  combi- 
nation with  which  it  can  be  used.  It  seems  most  effectually  to  avoid 
the  sickly  feeling  created  by  the  chloral  hydrate ;  I  venture  to  sug- 
gest the  employment  of  a  concentrated  solution  which  may  prove  con- 
venient. I  find  that  one  fluid  drachm  of  solution  made  with  distilled 
water  may  contain  so  large  a  quantity  as  one  drachm  by  weight  of  the 
chloral  hydrate.  I  therefore  use  this  formula  : — 
R. 
Chloral.  Hydrat.   .       .       .       I  j. 
Aquae  destillat.  .  .  .  q.  s.  ad  fl.  3  j* 
About  five  drachms  of  aqua  destillata  are  found  necessary,  and  the 
result  is  satisfactory.  Hence  in  a  prescription  ordering  3  ij  chloral 
hydrate,  two  drachms  of  the  concentrated  solution  will  be  wanted. 
The  convenient  applications  of  this  liquor  will  be  obvious.  Syrup  of 
chloral  hydrate  in  any  combination  may  be  instantaneously  prepared. 
*  Read  at  the  Evening  Meeting  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  Great 
Britain,  December  4, 1872. 
