Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
Daily Eas9e
C0AL-TAR PRODUCTS.
The Discovery Of an Efficient Sub
stitute for Quinine.
Something About tho Artificial Production
OF Alknloidal Substances-The Medical
Properties of Antipyrine-A Specific
for Many Diseases

Probably no class of investigations has
been more popular with chemists of recent
years, and certainly none have been more
prolific of wonderful results than those in
which they have attempted the artificial
production of alkalodal substances. It was,
for example, says Chambers Journal, in the
attempt to construct an artificial qunine
that the first aniline color was discovered
discovery which has developed one large
and important industry and revolutlonIzed
others. 1t was in conducting investiga-
tons In similar directions that one of the
latest remarkable discoveries was made
the production of saccharine.
Between these two discoveries, which in
a certain sense might be termed the earliest
and latest valuable products of public i'm
portance derived from coal tar, there lies a
third, which has all these years been slowly
but surely developing, and although the
discoveries connected with it may not
startle the world in the same way that both
mauve and saccharine did when first intro
duced, still they promise to be equally i'm
portant in another way and deserve moro
than passing notice.
The discoveries referred to are full OF
technIcahties and it would be out of place to
discuss these at present, but il the develop
ing process just spoken of is to be thor
oughly understood it will be necessary to
explain that a certain chemical relationship
exists between quinine, a well-known aka
loid derived from the cinchona bark. and
another substance called chinoline. This
last substance can he prepared, among
other ways, from co2l-tar; and from the cir
cumstance that il had medicinal properties
similar TO quinine, as well as this chemical
relationship to it, it was thought that some
new alkaloidal substance might be built up
from it which would take the place Of Qui-
nine.
Hence the reason that since the year 1881
chemists have been Systematically, persist
emily, and also successfully pursuing their
investigations in this direction. One after
another Of such valuable coal-tar alkaloids
have been discovered, and several of them
at the present time are slowly but certainly
changing one department of medicine, and
no one can quite foresee how very impor-
tant these discoveries may yet be alike to sci
ence and medicine. All these coal-tar aka
loids have powerful tendency to reduce
the temperature Of the body in cases of fe-
vers, hence they are called antipyretics;
an antipyrin, it will at once be under
stood, derives its name not from any thing
ton, but from its antipyretic action as
medicine.
It was discovered several years ago by
DR.. Knorr, Of Munich, and when it's import
ant medicinal properties were also discov-
cred by repeated experiment its manu-
facture was handed over to company, who
acquired proprietary rights, and in their
hands 1t has remained very much ever
since. For considerable time little was
known regarding it, but ultimately DR..
Knorr published paper on it's chemistry,
and thus scientific men got to know its com
position and mode OF Sroduction. Chemical
~ 1t reJoices IN what to ordinary minds will
appear the unpronounceable name of
neutrality-suspicious." such name, unlike
anupyrin, being intended as much as posi-
BILE TO represent to scientific men its chem
tcaa constitution.
It is one Cd the very best antipyretics ever
discovered, not even excluding quinine. It /
reduces the temperature in cases of fevers /
with almost unfaiiing certainty from two to
four degrees within two hours of being ad- |
ministered, and this, too, without the after
disturbing constitutional effects of quinIne. !
This thermic effect of antipyrin seems to be /
much more prolonged than in the case of
the majority of the other newly -discovered /
antipyretics and equals any thing ever pro-
duced by quinine. To quote two cases out |
of many which have recently appeared in
the medical journals: Fifteen-grain doses !
were given 10 two patients suffering from
typhoid fever and reduced the temperature
nearly to normal, while In both cases re-
freshing sleep for five or SLY hours was OBJ |
tanned.
In commerce 1t appears in small white .
<,y-x- csol ALL
der, in both cases being soluble freely in
water, without smell, and of mid, bitter !
taste 1t is thus very much easier admins
tered than quinine, particularly to children
and those patients who can not readily take
nauseous medicines. When first introduced
it was entirely for Its antipyretc action, but
medical men were not slow in discovering
that such valuable agent could be a6van-
tageously employed in many cases besides
fevers 1t is, for instance, recommended
In cases of phthisis, pneumonia, pleurisy
neuralgia, lumbago, sciatica, and in that
distressing complaint, sea-sickness. In
short It's history Is intimately connected
with the history of medicine for the past
three years, and it would be difficult to cite
all the different cases in which 1t is recon-
mended to be administered.
Probably, however, it has attained its
greatest popularity in this country, so far
rs the general public is concerned, from
being recommended as cure for head
aches. The writer has daily means of
knowing that its use in this respect is
largely increasing, and this of itself is SUI
icient to prove that in such cases it is use
full Only those who know how distressing
ly common this complaint is can rightly
understand and appreciate what public
boon it would be were a reliable and at the
same time safe cure to be discovered
1t is not to be expected that it will prove
panaces in every case, but that it has a
power in many cases in allaying
II not entirely ayertiug these painful at
lacks is undoubted. 1t may be given in
loses of from ten to twenty grains with
perfect safety, either at the commencement
IF the headache or as soon after as possible, ,
and should BE taken for several hours after .
ward. ,,
One peculiar circumstance remains 70 be ,
noted as TO antpyrin, namely that while in /,
probably in the first instance, as ;
/ rival 10 qumine, not so much in regard to !
as In regard TO price, its market )
value at the present time ounce per ounce.
n this country Is double that of quinlne :
( the respective dose OF eacn substance be ,
lilt NdiuS Is more ,
han four times that of quinine, as antipv- :
in as a rule is gwen in doses double that Of :
uinine. ;
Notwithstanding this fact, its popularity ;
nd consumption are daily increasing. and )
s it gets better known will no doubt in :
rease still more. AS evidence to show =
hat it holds an equal reputation in its
ative home, II may be mentioned that ii
las officially been recommended for intro