ON  CHLORAL. 
77 
to  be  the  most  favorable  for  experiment.  It  is  known  that  these 
bodies  when  brought  in  contact  with  alkaline  solutions  split  up 
into  chloroform  and  formiates  and  carbonates  of  the  alkalies. 
Both  of  these  substances  being  soluble  in  water  are  easily  absorbed ; 
after  they  have  passed  into  the  circulation  they  come  in  contact 
with  the  alkali  of  the  blood.  My  experiments  proved  that  the 
formic  acid  and  carbonic  acid  had  no  particular  effect,  while  the 
chloroform  exerted  its  full  influence." 
Dr.  Liebreich  reasoned  that  what  took  place  outside  of  the 
body  in  the  chemist's  laboratory  ought  to  follow^  in  the  alembic 
of  the  stomach ;  but  he  preferred  to  bring  his  agents  directly  in 
contact  with  the  blood  by  subcutaneous  injections  rather  than 
wait  for  the  action  by  the  way  of  the  stomach ;  although  in  some 
experiments  he  injected  the  compound  into  the  stomach. 
Some  animals  slept  in  ten  minutes  after  the  application,  and 
continued  in  this  state  for  eighteen  hours  with  quiet  pulse  and 
respiration.  One  man  slept  for  sixteen  hours  without  bad  effects. 
The  length  of  the  action  is  explained  on  the  theory  of  the  gradual 
elimination  of  chloroform  in  the  body,  and  its  continuous  effect 
upon  the  patient  until  the  whole  of  it  was  decomposed. 
Dr.  Jacobi,  a  distinguished  physician  of  New  York,  has  re- 
peated many  of  Dr.  Liebreich's  experiments  with  great  success, 
and  he  recently  read  a  very  interesting  paper  on  the  subject 
before  the  New  York  County  Medical  Society,  giving  a  detailed 
account  of  what  he  had  done.  On  the  other  side  of  the  question 
we  find  in  the  Medical  G-azette^  of  New  York,  so  ably  edited  by 
Dr.  A.  L.  Carroll,  a  translation  of  some  experiments  conducted 
by  M.  Demarquay  and  communicated  to  the  Academy  of  France, 
from  which  the  experimenter  draws  the  following  conclusions : 
"  1.  Chloral  has  a  well  marked  soporific  effect  upon  debili- 
tated and  weak  subjects. 
2.  The  duration  of  its  action  is  in  direct  proportion  to  the 
weakness  of  the  patient. 
^'  3.  The  sleep  provoked  by  it  is  generally  calm,  and  is  only 
disturbed  in  patients  laboring  under  acute  pains.  This  leads  me 
to  advise  it  in  diseases  where  it  is  desired  to  procure  sleep  and 
muscular  resolution. 
"  4.  Finally,  this  agent  may  be  given  in  quite  large  doses,  as 
