CHLORAL HYDRATE.
Introduction
Chloral hydrate is formed by saturating absolute alcohol with chlorine gas to make chloral, and this combining with water gives us the colorless crystals, one part of which dissolved in nine parts of water, represents our tincture, which, properly speaking, is the 1x.
Chloral hydrate, which is a powerful anodyne and hypnotic, was first proved for us by Dr. W Eggert, of this country, the report being published in 1870. In 1874, Dr. D.A. Babcock, now of Fall River, Mass, proved it for his Granulating Thesis from this college.
Symptoms
It is a heart depressant and paralyzer of the vaso-motor nerves and is the substance used for “knock-out drops.” It produces a decided erythema, which is decidedly worse from alcoholic stimulants.
Our use of it is limited, and the headache and the urticaria are the only conditions calling for it that we will mention.
The headache is worse in the morning, aggravated by any motion (96) and relieved to a degree in the open air (92).
The urticaria may follow, says Dearborn, the ” free use of drinks or stimulants” and it is much worse at night than during the day. I have frequently used it with success, in the 1st, in urticaria (201) where over-indulgence at table was suspected but not proved.
I use Chloral hydrate 1st.
