CHLORALAMID AS A HYPNOTIC FOR THE INSANE

The drug was administered, in doses of from twenty to sixty grains, one hundred and thirty times, and the results are summarized as follows: Twenty grains were given twice and they produced an average sleep of three and three-quarter hours. Thirty grains administered fifty-one times averaged five hours' sleep. Seventy-four doses of forty-five grains procured sleep which averaged four and two-fifths hours. Average of sixty grain doses given three times, was three and five-sixths hours. General average was four and three-fifths hours.

In the successful cases thirty grain doses seemed to give the most satisfactory sleep. The time required to induce sleep varied from fifteen minutes to five hours, and in character it was with few exceptions light and restless. In case No. III nausea and inco-ordination followed the administration of forty-five grains. Once (Case XIII) vomiting was produced. In Case XIV some confusion and inco-ordination were noticed and in Case XVI patient complained of vertigo.

Finally. These limited observations seem to the writer to indicate that in this class of cases we have in sulfonal and chloral better means for procuring quiet and restful sleep than is vouchsafed by chloralamid.