Abstract

The concentrations of chloral hydrate and trichloroethanol in brain were measured after intraperitoneal and intravenous administration of the two drugs to mice; the brain levels of these agents wene correlated with different stages of hypnosis. Data are presented which indicate that chloral hydrate is in itself a potent hypnotic, but of short duration, its action being limited by a rapid reduction to trichloroethanol, and the latter compound continuing the hypnotic activity.