_Symptoms._--When swallowed, characteristic smell in breath, anxious countenance, burning pain in the throat, stomach, and region of the abdomen, staggering gait, coldness of the extremities, vomiting, insensibility, deepening into coma, with stertorous breathing, dilated pupils, and imperceptible pulse. When inhaled, much the same as ether, but produces insensibility and muscular relaxation more rapidly. It would be impossible to instantly render a person insensible by holding a pocket-handkerchief saturated with chloroform over the face. Statements such as this, which are often made in cases of robbery from the person and in cases of rape, are incredible. _Delayed Chloroform-Poisoning._--Death may take place in from four to seven days after chloroform has been administered, especially in the case of children. The internal organs are found to be fattily degenerated, and death is thought to be due to acetonuria. _Post-Mortem Appearances._--Cerebral and pulmonary congestion. Heart empty, or right side distended with dark blood. _Treatment._--Stomach-tube and free lavage; cold affusion; drawing forward tongue; artificial respiration; galvanism and suspension with head downward. Inhalation of nitrite of amyl; strychnine hypodermically. _Fatal Dose._--When swallowed, from 1 to 2 ounces. _Method of Extraction from the Stomach._--By distillation at 120 deg. F. The vapour, as it passes along a glass tube, may be decomposed by heat into chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and carbon--the first shown by setting free iodine in iodide of starch, the second by reddening blue litmus-paper, and the last by its deposit. _Tests._--Taste, colour, weight; burns with a green flame; dissolves camphor, guttapercha, and caoutchouc. =Iodoform.=--Poisoning may result from its use in surgery. It produces delirium, sleepiness, and coma. It may lead to mental weakness or optic neuritis. XXXV.--CHLORAL HYDRATE It was formerly largely used as a hypnotic, and many fatal consequences ensued. It is prepared from alcohol and chlorine. _Symptoms._--Deep sleep, loss of muscular power, diminished or abolished reflex action and sensibility, followed by loss of consciousness and marked fall of temperature. Pulse may become quick, and face flushed or livid and bloated. Prolonged use of this drug may produce a peculiar eruption on the skin. Supposed to act in the blood by being decomposed into chloroform and sodium formate. Its effects are due chiefly to depression of the central nervous system, the medulla being the last part of the nervous system to be attacked. _Method of Extraction from the Stomach._--By distillation in strongly alkaline solutions, when it may be obtained as chloroform and tested as such. _Treatment._--Stomach-tube or emetic. Hypodermic injections of strychnine. Keep patient warm, and inject a pint of hot strong coffee into the rectum. Nitrite of amyl and artificial respiration.