A clear, colorless liquid, with an ethereal odor and a burning, sweet taste. Slightly soluble (1:210) in water and miscible with alcohol, ether, petroleum benzin or fixed or volatile oils. Decomposed by alkalies.
Action and Uses: General anesthetic, administered by inhalation. Locally, a penetrating and fairly powerful irritant. Frequently used in the form of liniments. Taken by mouth in small doses, carminative, anodyne and antiseptic. Larger doses are anthelmintic but dangerous. A direct cardiac depressant.
Dosage: 0.3 Cc. or 5 minims (U.S.P.), diluted.
*Aqua Chloroformi (Aq. Chlorof.), Chloroform Water, U.S.P.—A saturated solution of chloroform in water.
Dosage: 15 Cc. or 4 fluidrachms (U.S.P.).
*Linimentum Chloroformi (Lin. Chlorof.), Chloroform Liniment, U.S.P.—A mixture of chloroform (30%) and soap liniment. Fairly active counterirritant.
Mistura Chloroformi et Morphinae Composita (Mist. Chlorof. et Morph. Co.), Compound Mixture of Chloroform and Morphine, N.F. (Mistura Chloroformi et Cannabis Indicae Composita, N.F. III, Chloroform Anodyne).—Morphine sulphate (0.25%), chloroform (12.5%), ether (3.25%), tincture of cannabis (18.5%), tincture of capsicum, oil of peppermint, glycerin, water and alcohol. Absolute alcohol content about 60 per cent.
Uses: An evident imitation of the nostrum sold as chloranodyne, and equally irrational and objectionable.
Dosage: 2 Cc. or 30 minims (N.F.).