Page 331 - My FlipBook

CHLORAL. 329

CHLORAL.
CHLORAL HYDRAS HYDRATE OF CHLORAL.
/or;n«/^.—C2HCI3OH2O.
Derivation.— Chloral is obtained by the action of dry chlorine
gas on absolute alcohol, and is purified by sulphuric acid and a
small quantity of lime ; a small quantity of water converts it into
solid crystalline hydrate of chloral. It is in the form of a snow-
white, crystalline mass, with a pungent odor and taste, soluble in
its own weight of distilled water, and very soluble in alcohol.
When heated, it fuses and evaporates, leaving no residue, and in
the air without combustion.
Medical Properties and Action.—Hydrate of chloral is hypnotic
and anaesthetic, possessing more of the former and less of the
latter property than chloroform, and, unlike chloroform, after its
administration there is no elimination by the breath or urine. It
diffuses into the blood rapidly, causing an abundant flow of
saliva, and a cooling sensation in the stomach, followed by
warmth. Very large quantities cause a high degree of gastric
irritation, nausea and vomiting ; very large doses of chloral
paralyze the heart, and produce a fall of arterial pressure, and a
slow, feeble, or sometimes a rapid running pulse. The blood
becomes dark and grumous-looking with the corpuscles broken
down. Taken in moderate quantity it stimulates the appetite,
and produces muscular relaxation. It is uniformly certain in its
action as a hypnotic, has no depressing influence, and does not
cause constipation. Administered in doses of gr. x to gr. xxx, it
causes unconsciousness to pain, and a profound sleep, lasting
over several hours. The sleep it produces is quiet and gentle,
and induced without distress. Liebreich claims to have pro-
duced sleep which lasted from five to fifteen hours, with from 25
to 30 grains of hydrate of chloral.
The habitual use of chloral leads to a disorder which is some-
what similar to the " opium habit," although it may not be as
persistent. When there is present no susceptibility to its hyp-
notic action, it is liable to cause headache, and in some cases, a
delirious excitement. Its hypnotic action is immediately pre-
ceded by a stage of excitement, generally of short duration,