This section is from the book "Materia Medica And Therapeutics: An Introduction to the National Treatment of Disease", by John Mitchell Bruce. Also available from Amazon: The pharmacology and therapeutics of the materia medica.
Source. - Obtained in the manufacture of chloral.
Characters. - A colourless volatile liquid, with the odour and taste of chloroform. Specific gravity, l.20. Readily soluble in ether, chloroform, and alcohol; with difficulty in water.
Dichloride of ethidene is a general ansesthetic, supposed to occupy a position somewhat between ether and chloroform, hut depressing the heart more than the latter. It is a very safe amesthetic in some animals, but, like all its allies, occasionally causes death in man. About 4 fl.dr. in the form of vapour are required for an adult.
 
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