The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-29
THE LATEST HYPNOTIC.
Powerful Properties of Hypnal, tho
Now French Drug.
a Combination or Choral, IIydrate and
Antipyrln - Physicians Disposed to
Give 1t u Wido Berth Until 1t
Is Thoroughly Tested.

main of medicine, and one that is oxcit-
ing considerable comment among physi-
clans and pharmacists, is what is
known as hypnH. To the French
chemists belong tho honor and credit of
tho discovery, and it will remain for
them to provo tho excellence of tho dis
covery, also its pra,tical application to
tho curing of disease, as safe, sure and
speedily acting remedial agent. Hypnal
is as yet comparatively unknown in
America, except as treated in medical
literature, moro especially foreign pub
locations. In recent issue of Les
NOuveauX Remedies tho following form
ula by Bonnet, for obtaining hypnal. is
given:
six parts OF antipyrln In another vessel dis
solve ono part of chlorsl hydrate In one mart of
hot water. MIX the still hot solutions and filter
rapidly. On cooling, IN oily material Will sepa-
rate from the ffltrato end fall to the bottom
Decant the supernatapt water and set 1t aside
In an open pan to crystalline.
To the oily residue add six parts or sum.
ci0nt quantity OF hot water to redissolye IL md
let stand. In the course OF three or four DAYS
crop OF large crystals will be found In each of
the two vessels. Remove these carefully. lot
drain and return the drainage to the residual
mother liquor and reunile the liquors. To tho
latter, raised TO boiling in water bath add OF
part OF choral hydrate dissolved in one pars of
boiling water. withdraw from the fire and let
crystalline. BY following this technique. from
IL pounds OF antipyrin and about 81, pounds OF
choral hydrate, about pounds OF hypnal, or
monochloral- antipyrin, may be obtained
The chemicals entering into the COM
position of hypnal arc of such charac-
ter and power as drugs to nccessitatc
their use in exact proportion, and they
must be of absolute purity to realize cor
rect preclpitate, else tho result NAV be
an entirely different remedy in action
and in properties; hence the medical
practitioners are warned that to get the
benefits of hypnal they must prescribe
the article itself as prepared in the lab
oratory and not mere mixture of solu-
lions of choral and antipyrin. Bichlo.
ral-antipyrin is not hypnal, though often
resulting from an unequal proportion
and is mistaken precipitation.
The remedy is said to have an agree
able taste, and is not objected to by
children and in this respect alono is
preferable as we'll as superior to chloral.
Its action is to produce cessation of pain
and invite sleep within thirty minutes
to an hour after taking, according to the
severity and type of case in hand. Tho
principal superiority of the remedy over
chloral is in the absence of all Disagree
able taste and irritation of the stomach
that usually accompanies the use of the
latter.
In tour of investigation among the
best-known practitioners st. Louis
Republic reporter was informed by the
majority of those seen that as vet the
newly-discovered remedy was compar.
alive stranger to the American public.
but from the authorities and accounts
in leading foreign medical publications
hypnal was destined to become yalua-
BILE acquisition to materia medica. Tho
value of the discovery TO the nerve
specialists and to the profession in the
treatment of all nerve affections will be
incalculable if tho half that is claimed
be true. AS yet its newness prevents,
and for some time will continue to pre.
vent, very extended use of hypnal,
also its expense, its ingredients being
of the most expensive of drugs, the anti
pyrin being patented article and its
use IN measure prohibited by the man
ufacturers. Then, too, the jealousy of
foreignism in invention, experiment. or
otherwise, on the part of the American
practitioners will defer any experiment.
al Investigations in this country for
time. Apropos to this last the follow
ing, from leading st. Louis practition-
or, will be OF interest:
81 have read of the new remedy hyp-
nal, but have had no experience with it
as none has been imported to date. 1
have very little faith in the drug until
it has been thoroughly tried and exact
clinical reports heard from. The num-
Der of new remedies similar In charac-
ter which have been brought out by
foreign drug manufacturers is remark
able; hardly week passes without ply
slcians receiving circulars from the en-
tcrprising manufacturing chemists her.
aiding in extravagant terms the great
and wonderfully marvellous benefits to
be obtained from the acknowledgements
chemicals. The favoritc study of many
chemists at present is tho development
of new combinations which have hyp-
motto effect; that is to induce sleep and
relieve pain. While we havo much to
DO thankful for in having additional
remedies to aid us, yet wo have also
much to regret Tho temptation to
habitual use Of the majority Of the new
remedies is often very strong, and many
wrecks of body, mind and soul can be
often laid at the doors of somo Of them.
The drug hypnal is derivation OF
choral and antipyrin, and it is claimed
that fifteen grains relieves pain and
brings on mental quictudo. hope that
it will merit all that is claimed for it.
AS to the cost OF the drug it will prob
ably BIO very expensive, for tho drugs
from which it is manufactured are quite
expensive"