Facts About Chloral.

Hastings Standard, Issue 39, 11 June 1896, Page 4

Facts About Chloral.

Chloral is \ drug which, daring the la: t few years, has oh;.'inc.l a great reparation for the tivihnent of all diseases in which pain or sleeplessness is a prominent symptom. It is a nstv fid drag, although it inu<l he admitted that it has 11 it maintained its early reputation. The sleep produced by a iv: dose 1;f eld >;ml, say from ten to iif-.e»>;i grains, is usuuily calm i*efrediing i>n<l divsimle- ; . It is not profound, and Lhe pa tic!;?, when rou>ed, will ottea make a hearty meal, then lie dowa again and at once resume his nap. Jt com-.-s on sometimes in a few minutes, but mnro iavouently in about half an after tilting the dose. It should bo given at bedtime, and the p '.ii u sh>)-t! l r .-! ':: 1 quiet and avoid cxchevnent, f«:r .otherwise it may produce ivcJtle isjicss instead of sleep. The after eA'ccts c*f choral are u-uuilly .-light ; sometiine.j iv p.'oduci:- o-i the following morning' a good deal of h av'n s : and sleepiness, and oc?asio:ially i'riglitful dreams, e\cic 'liieni, iotoxicatioii, and delirium. It is to he fear:d that the practice of taking chloral for every little ache and pain is greatly on the ■ - . alany Lv!it.■> never tlnnk ot travelling without it, and carrying it in their dressing cases with as much carelessness as if it were so much rau-de-cologne. Perhaps the greatest objection to its constant use is that it is apt to cause sudden death. People who, without medical .sanction, habitually use chloral, should at once rid th- nist Ives of a dangerous and pernicious habit.