118 
Chloral. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
I  March  1,1871. 
That  hydrate  of  chloral  ought  to  be  perfectly  pure  when  used  in 
medicine  is  unquestionable ;  the  substitution  of  alcoholate  is  quite 
suflficient  to  produce  most  of  the  ill  effects  attributed  to  chloral.  In 
fact,  instead  of  being  a  hypnotic,  it  has  a  tendency  to  produce  mental 
excitement,  as  ordinary  stimulants. 
The  dose  of  hydrate  of  chloral  is  from  5  grains  to  30  or  40  grains, 
according  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  required.  A  case  is  on  record 
where  100  grains  were  taken  accidentally  without  any  evil  results ; 
but  I  am  informed  that  there  is  danger  in  continued  small  doses. 
Very  unexpected  results  have,  in  a  few  instances,  occurred.  And 
here  I  would  strongly  caution  pharmnceutists  not  to  prescribe  its  use 
themselves,  or  supply  it  to  the  public  without  the  sanction  of  a  medi- 
cal man. 
Hydrate  of  chloral  has  been  successfully  administered  as  an  anti- 
dote to  strychnia. 
Hydrate  of  chloral  cannot,  in  consequence  of  its  chemical  proper- 
ties, be  administered  in  the  shape  of  pills  or  in  the  form  of  powder ; 
it  is,  therefore,  necessary  almost  to  confine  its  use  to  solutions.  For 
dispensing  purposes,  Liebreich  recommends  a  solution  of  the  hydrate 
in  its  own  weight  of  water.  In  small  doses  it  can  be  given  without 
the  addition  of  a  corrective,  but  simply  dissolved  in  distilled  water. 
There  are  several  pharmaceutical  preparations  in  which  the  hydrate 
of  ghloral  is  disguised,  or  its  taste  modified,  in  various  ways.  Of  the 
syrups  containing  10  grains  of  Liebreich's  hydrate  in  each  dram,  one 
made  with  syrup,  pruni  virg.  is  used  in  America;  it  is  most  palatable. 
Another  is  made  with  syr.  tolu ;  others  with  syr.  flor.  aurant.,  syrup, 
cort.  aurant.  (as  suggested  by  Liebreich).  Another  is  flavored  with 
almonds  (Ferris).  There  is  also  a  draught  containing  half  dram 
chloral,  with  syrup  tolu,  tinct.  ginger  and  peppermint  water.  Loz- 
enges containing  1  grain  hydrate  of  chloral  in  each  are  manufactured 
by  Messrs.  Meggeson  &  Co. 
Spiritus  choralis  is  made  by  Savory  and  Moore.  It  has  a  very 
agreeable  taste  and  smell,  but  I  was  not  able  to  obtain  any  deposit 
upon  evaporating  a  little. 
Limousin's  capsules  are  known  to  contain  alcoholate  of  chloral,  be- 
cause true  hydrate  cannot  be  secured  in  a  gelatinous  envelope. 
In  describing  and  dispensing  hydrate  of  chloral,  it  should  be  borne 
in  mind  that  no  corrective  with  alkaline  reaction  can  be  employed  with 
