Chloroform Vapour.—The symptoms occasioned by chloroform when inhaled are not unlike those caused by ether, with this exception, that insensibility and general relaxation of the muscles are more rapidly produced.
Symptoms.—The symptoms of poisoning when chloroform is taken by the mouth are similar to those following inhalation, with irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Vomiting generally occurs, the person becomes unconscious and comatose, the face cyanosed and the skin moist. The pupils are dilated and insensitive to light. The breathing is slow and stertorous, the pulse small and feeble. Death is due to respiratory paralysis first, and paralysis of the heart in addition, or the latter, according to some observers, may be the primary cause. On recovery diarrhœa may follow, with occasionally enlargement of the liver and jaundice.
Post-mortem Appearances.—Congestion of the vessels of the brain, and also of the lungs, is generally found. The cavities of the heart are usually empty; but, in some cases, the right side of the heart is found distended with dark-coloured fluid blood. Congestion of the spleen, liver, and kidneys is not of infrequent occurrence.
Fatal Period and Dose.—In one or two cases where the vapour was inhaled, death took place in from one to two minutes. Thirty drops thus taken destroyed life in one minute, and even fifteen drops have proved speedily fatal. It has thus destroyed life in a smaller dose, and more rapidly, than any other known poison. When swallowed, one fluid drachm has proved fatal in a boy, about four fluid drachms in an adult. Recovery has taken place after four fluid ounces. Three hours is the shortest fatal period after swallowing chloroform.
Chemical Analysis.—In searching for the presence of this substance in the blood or tissues, the examination should be made as speedily as possible, as chloroform is thought by some observers to have a great tendency to pass into formic acid, and thus to escape recognition.
1. The substance to be examined should be placed in a flask, to which is adapted a glass tube bent at right angles. A piece of blue litmus paper, and another portion of paper moistened with iodide of potassium and starch paste, are inserted into the end of the glass tube. The flask and its contents should now be placed in a water bath heated to a temperature of 161° F. (72° C.), and a portion of the glass tube just past the bend heated to redness. Any chloroform vapour evolved from the contents of the flask is decomposed during its passage through the heated glass tube into free chlorine and hydrochloric acid, the presence of the former being indicated by the starch paper becoming blue; while at the same time the reddening of the litmus paper reveals the presence of the acid. As a further corroboration, the exit tube may be made to dip into nitrate of silver solution, when a precipitate of the curdy-white chloride of silver will take place, insoluble in nitric acid, but dissolving on the addition of ammonia. Every 100 parts of chloride of silver formed, equals 27.758 of chloroform. By this process chloroform has been detected four weeks after death in putrid organs.
2. Chloroform may be separated from organic mixtures by distillation. If aniline and alcoholic solution of potash be added to chloroform and heated, the peculiar odour of phenyl-isocyanide is given off.
3. A solution of β-naphthol dissolved in caustic potash, when added to chloroform and heated, gives a blue colour.
4. Chloroform reduces Fehling‘s solution.
Treatment.—The same as recommended with regard to ether. M. Nelaton recommends inversion of the body, and ascribes the recovery of one patient to his suddenly lifting him up and throwing him over his shoulder with his head hanging down.