attributes them to the following three causes which have been experimentally to follow the use of chloral:?(1.) To the retardation of respiration, -which may finally become stertorous,- and cause stupor, coma, and death. (2.) To the paralvsing influence upon the vaso-motor nervous system (the insufficient innervation of the cutaneous vessels produces erythema, petechioe, &c., in the use of chloral). (3) To the direct paralysing action upon the heart itself and its contractibility. The surtddeu occurrence of this last cause of death by paralysis of the heart was also present in the author's cases.? The JUedical Press and Circular.
proved
JOLLY ON THE DANGERS OF CHLORAL HYDRATE. We have reported
so many observations from various sources may well add Hie following summary of tho llayer- Aertz. Int. Bl1872, No. 12, from the last issue of the Neio York Medical Journal. In the course of two years, during which the author employed chloral hydrate in diseases of the mind, he observed two cases in which death occuiTed suddenly after tho use of five grammes at one dose, which is much below the ordinarily employed maximum doses ; the preparation presented in both cases all the characteristics of chemical purity. The physical phenomena in both patients were preceded by a state of acuto excitation, without any symptoms of paralysis; in one case from abuse of alcohol, in the other from unknown etiological causes. During life tho patients presented no contra-indicatiori against tho employment of chloral. The ouc after receiving for four davs at evening 5 0 grammes, expired with the fifth, a few moments after tho administration of a similar dost1, with instantaneous stand-still of the movements of tho heart and of respiration. The post-mortem showed nnsemia of tho brain, acute oedema of tho lungs, abnormal congestion of lower abdominal organs, completely normal heart, tho vessels intact, blood dark and thin. The other had for twelve days received S Ogrammes, with normal hypnotic effects, after a short stage of excitation ; on the thirteenth day ho sank a quarter of an hour after tho administration of a similar dose, and expired after a few rattling inspirations. The post-mortem in this caso presented only an extensive oedema of tho lungs, thin fluid blood which was normally distributed in the organs ; the heart, however, was large and placid, its muscle pale but In not friable. concluding theso observations of his own, the author sums up all that is known thus far of the toxical phe-
chloral, that ?lolly's paper in
on
nomena
caused
we
by
tho continued
uso
of chloral hydrate, and
proved
JOLLY ON THE DANGERS OF CHLORAL HYDRATE. We have reported
so many observations from various sources may well add Hie following summary of tho llayer- Aertz. Int. Bl1872, No. 12, from the last issue of the Neio York Medical Journal. In the course of two years, during which the author employed chloral hydrate in diseases of the mind, he observed two cases in which death occuiTed suddenly after tho use of five grammes at one dose, which is much below the ordinarily employed maximum doses ; the preparation presented in both cases all the characteristics of chemical purity. The physical phenomena in both patients were preceded by a state of acuto excitation, without any symptoms of paralysis; in one case from abuse of alcohol, in the other from unknown etiological causes. During life tho patients presented no contra-indicatiori against tho employment of chloral. The ouc after receiving for four davs at evening 5 0 grammes, expired with the fifth, a few moments after tho administration of a similar dost1, with instantaneous stand-still of the movements of tho heart and of respiration. The post-mortem showed nnsemia of tho brain, acute oedema of tho lungs, abnormal congestion of lower abdominal organs, completely normal heart, tho vessels intact, blood dark and thin. The other had for twelve days received S Ogrammes, with normal hypnotic effects, after a short stage of excitation ; on the thirteenth day ho sank a quarter of an hour after tho administration of a similar dose, and expired after a few rattling inspirations. The post-mortem in this caso presented only an extensive oedema of tho lungs, thin fluid blood which was normally distributed in the organs ; the heart, however, was large and placid, its muscle pale but In not friable. concluding theso observations of his own, the author sums up all that is known thus far of the toxical phe-
chloral, that ?lolly's paper in
on
nomena
caused
we
by
tho continued
uso
of chloral hydrate, and
