Am.  Jour.  Pharm 
June,  1886. 
Chloral  and  Menthol. 
28a 
a  test-tube,  a  clear  liquid  results,  which,  on  cooling,  becomes  opaque 
and  so  nearly  solid  that  the  tube  may  be  inverted  without  the  mass 
falling  out  ;  this  is  soluble  in  alcohol,  though  less  freely  than  chloral- 
camphor,  this  oily  compound  being  deposited  on  the  addition  of 
water. 
Mixed  with  strong  sulphuric  acid  chloral-camphor  forms  a  clear 
liquid,  passing  through  various  shades  of  yellow,  red,  and  brown, 
becoming  nearly  black,  and  gradually  separating  above  small  crystals 
uniform  in  shape,  which,  in  contact  with  water,  become  liquid  and 
sink  to  the  bottom  in  globules.  The  acid  mixture  has  a  peculiar 
fragrant  odor. 
Nitric  acid  dissolves  a  portion  of  chloral-camphor,  assuming  at  the 
same  time  a  greenish-yellow  color. 
CHLORAL  AND  MENTHOL. 
By  Harry  Vane  Becker,  Ph.G. 
(From  an  Inaugural  Essay.) 
Menthol  is  usually  applied  in  the  form  of  cones  or  pencils,  and 
from  time  to  time  solutions  in  alcohol,  benzin,  chloroform,  ether, 
olive  oil,  glycerin,  &c,  have  been  suggested.  The  author  suggests  a 
combination  of  menthol  with  chloral-hydrate,  which  is  prepared  from 
equal  weights  of  the  two  compounds,  triturating  them  together  and 
heating  in  a  water  bath  not  above  96°  F.,  until  complete  liquefaction 
is  effected.  Thus  prepared,  chloral-menthol  is  an  oily,  colorless 
liquid,  having  a  distinct  mint-like  odor,  a  warm  aromatic  and  cam- 
phoraceous  taste,  and  at  58°  F.  the  specific  gravity  1*1984.  It  is 
completely  soluble  in  all  proportions  in  alcohol,  freely  so  in  benzin, 
and  also  soluble  in  chloroform,  ether  and  carbon  bisulphide.  A  few 
drops  of  the  liquid  brought  in  contact  with  an  equal  quantity  of 
sulphuric  acid,  gave  off  almost  immediately  a  disagreeable  odor,  the 
mixture  becoming  yellow,  then  orange  in  the  centre,  and  on  the 
border  surrounded  by  a  greenish,  then  green  band,  which  soon  dark- 
ened. On  being  now  stirred  with  a  glass  rod,  the  mixture  is  blue, 
and  dissolves  in  alcohol  with  little  or  no  color;  the  solution  neutralized 
with  potassa  and  heated,  acquires  a  straw  color,  potassium  sulphate 
being  precipitated.  If  the  mixture  of  oily  liquid  and  acid  be  kept 
for  some  time,  two  layers  are  formed,  one  being  dark  green,  the  other 
nearly  colorless;  on  agitation  with  water,  the  latter  is  dissolved,  leaving 
a  dark  green  unctuous  mass. 
