238 
CHLORAL-HYDRATE. 
contact  with  the  atmosphere  traces  of  hydrochloric  acid  are  dis- 
cernible, which  must  be  carefully  neutralized  by  ammonia  if 
the  solution  is  to  be  used  for  subcutaneous  injections. 
The  dose  of  chloral-hydrate  depends  on  the  individuality  of  the 
patient  and  on  the  desired  effect.  For  internal  use  Dr.  0. 
Liebreich  recommends  the  addition  of  mucilago  acacise  or  syrup- 
us  aurantii ;  it  is  important,  however,  to  avoid  the  use  of  all 
alkaline  vehicles  and  correctives,  which  decompose  chloral- 
hydrate. 
The  following  formulas  for  administering  chloral-hydrate  are 
taken  from  Dr.  Liebreich's  pamphlet : 
R.  Hjdrat.  chlorali  4-5  to  8-0  !  (YO  to 
124  grs. !) 
Aq.  destill. 
Syr.  Aurant.  aa,  15-0  (^ss.) 
M.  S.    One  dose.    (In  delirium  pota- 
torum.) 
R.  Hjdrat.  chlorali  2-0  (^ss.) 
Aquae  destilL  150-0  (^v.) 
Syrupi  Aurant. 
Mucil.  Acacife  aa,  15-0  (^ss.) 
M.  S.    A  tablespoonful  every  hour. 
(Sedative.) 
B;.  Hydrat.  chlorali  5-0, 
Aquae  destillatae  q.  s.  to  make  10 
cubic  centimetres  (f^ijss.) 
M.  S.    1  to  4  cc.m.  (m  15  to  fgi),  for 
subcutaneous  injections. 
Dr.  Rieckher  gives  the  following  tests  for  pure  chloral-hydrate 
(N.  Jahrb.  f.  Ph.,  1870,  Jan.,  p.  15)  :  It  has  a  peculiar  odor 
and  taste,  is  dry  and  colorless,  dissolves  clear  in  its  own  weight 
of  water,  fuses  when  heated  upon  platinum  foil,  and  evaporates 
without  residue  and  without  taking  fire  ;  the  aqueous  solution  is 
not  disturbed  by  nitrate  of  silver  ;  agitated  with  colorless  con- 
centrated sulphuric  acid,  it  becomes  turbid  without  coloration 
even  on  being  heated ;  acidulated  with  sulphuric  acid  and  faintly 
tinged  with  permanganate  of  potassa,  no  decolorization  takes 
place  in  two  to  three  hours  ;  nitric  acid  sp.  gr.  1-20  is  not  col- 
ored, nor  does  it  act  upon  it  in  the  cold  or  when  heated. 
Hager  (Pharm.  Centralhalle,  1870,  9,  10,)  gives  nearly  the 
R.  Hydratis  chlorali,  2-5  (=38  grs. 
Aq.  destill. 
Mucil.  Acaciae,  aa  15-0  (=  ^ss.) 
M.  S.    Take  at  one  dose.  (Ordinary 
hypnotic.) 
R.  Hydratis  chlorali  4-0  (=62  grs.) 
Aquae  destill. 
Syr.  aurant.  «a,  15-0  (=^ss.) 
M.S.    A  tablespoonful  at  night.  (Or- 
dinary hypnotic.) 
R.  Hydratis  chlorali  5-0, 
Aquae  destill.  10  0. 
M.  S.  A  teaspoonful  in  a  glass  of 
wine,  beer  or  lemonade.  (Hyp- 
notic.) 
