462  Union  of  Chloral  Hydrate  and  Camphor,  {AmbJc°u,rx87h6arm- 
R.    Quiniae  sulph.,  .              .              .             .    gr.  xii  o-8o 
Pulv.  opii,               .              .                          gr.  iii  0*20 
Syrupi,             •              •              .              .    q.  s. 
Fiant  pil.  No.  xii. 
Each  pill  contains  0'o66  (1  grain)  quinia,  and  0*016  (J  grain)  opium. 
R.    Atropiae,  .  .  .  .    gr.  ss  0-033 
Alcohol.,  .  .  .         .  .  q.  s. 
Adipis,  .  .  .  .  4"oo  M. 
Atropia  ointment. 
It  is  the  writer's  opinion  that  physicians  could  very  materially  pro- 
mote the  introduction  of  the  metrical  weights,  since  by  writing  their 
prescriptions  in  the  manner  indicated,  they  would  at  the  same  time 
compel  apothecaries  to  procure  a  suitable  set  of  weights,  which  would 
save  them  the  trouble  of  calculating  the  grams  into  grains  and  troy- 
ounces  ;  such  a  movement  would  be  a  great  step  toward  carrying  out 
the  resolution  of  the  Convention  of  1870,  and  toward  harmonizing 
the  strength  of  the  various  pharmaceutical  preparations  with  those  of 
other  "  Pharmacopoeias,"  or  at  least  bringing  them  into  a  simpler  rela- 
tion.— Med.  and  Surg.  Reporter,  Sept.  9. 
THE  UNION  OF  CHLORAL  HYDRATE  AND  CAMPHOR. 
BY  EARNEST   C  SAUNDERS,  MONTREAL. 
It  has  long  been  known  that  a  mixture  of  hydrate  of  chloral  and 
camphor,  in  equal  parts,  formed  a  liquid,  but  it  has,  I  believe,  never 
been  settled  as  to  whether  the  result  is  due  to  chemical  combination  or 
to  the  solvent  power  of  one  article  over  the  other.  The  following 
notes  of  an  investigation  into  the  subject  may  be  interesting,  and  throw 
some  light  upon  it. 
Four  ounces  of  chloral  hydrate  and  the  same  weight  of  camphor,  in 
lumps,  were  put  into  a  bottle  and  allowed  to  stand,  being  occasionally 
shaken.  In  48  hours  both  were  completely  liquefied,  forming  a  syrupy 
fluid,  smelling  of  both  ingredients,  and  of  specific  gravity  1*243.  Five 
ounces  of  this  were  placed  in  a  flask,  fitted  with  a  wide  tube  leading 
into  a  receiver  immersed  in  ice-cold  water,  and  having  a  thermometer 
passed  through  the  cork,  the  bulb  reaching  into  the  liquid.  Heat  be- 
ing applied,  the  temperature  rose  to  2240  F.,  at  which  point  the  liquid 
boiled  freely.  The  temperature  rose  gradually  up  to  3000,  from  which 
point  it  rose  more  rapidly  to  4020,  when  the  liquid  distilled  unchanged. 
