GLTCERATUS — PBEPARATION  OF  HYDRATE  OF  CHLORAL.  177 
dizing  mixture  of  bichromate  of  potash  and  sulphuric  acid  ;  then 
to  remove  the  products  of  the  oxidation  of  the  alcohol  bj  wash- 
ing once  or  twice  with  water. 
M.  Lieben  has  also  applied  his  reaction  to  the  examination  of 
urine  after  drinking  alcoholic  liquids.  He  can  always  detect  al- 
cohol in  the  first  portions  of  the  distillate. — Q.  H.  Wood,  F.O.S., 
in  Pharm.  Jour.^  London,  Dec,  1869. 
GLYCERATUS.— A  SUBSTITUTE  FOR  SIMPLE  SYRUP. 
By  H.  Treverton  Bond. 
Allow  me  to  suggest  the  following  preparation,  which  I  have 
christened  "  Glyceratus,"  as  an  article  that  in  many  prescrip- 
tions can  be  used  with  advantage  in  place  of  simple  syrup. 
Take  of  Glycerin,  one  pint, 
Water,  two  pints. 
Mix  them. 
The  objections  to  simple  syrup  are  too  well  known  to  need 
mention,  while  the  great  solvent  power  of  glycerin  (see  U.  S. 
Dispensatory,  p.  419,)  render  it  far  superior  in  many  instances. 
This  preparation  undergoes  no  change,  and  can  be  readily  made. 
If  the  syrup  in  various  ferrated  elixirs  be  replaced  by 
"  Glyceratus,''  the  tendency  to  change  either  by  precipitation  or 
darkening  will  be  found  to  be  entirely  obviated,  or  to  exist  in 
but  a  very  slight  degree. 
Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  Feb.  l^th,  1870. 
PREPARATION  OF  HYDRATE  OF  CHLORAL. 
By  M.  Stadeler. 
Liebig  prepares  chloral  by  passing  dry  chlorine  into  absolute 
alcohol,  and  gradually  increasing  the  heat  until  chlorine  ceases 
to  be  absorbed.  8  oz.  alcohol  require  a  rapid  and  continuous 
current  for  at  least  twelve  hours.  The  residue,  which  generally 
crystallizes,  is  agitated  and  gently  heated,  with  twice  or  three 
times  its  volume  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid ;  the  crude 
chloral  is  separated,  and  by  boiling  for  some  time  and  by  recti- 
fication over  lime  it  is  freed  from  alcohol  and  muriatic  acid,  the 
distillation  being  stopped  when  the  liquid  no  longer  covers  the 
lime. 
12 
