The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-24
COAL TAR PRODUCTS.
REMEDIES THAT HAVE BECOME "a
K voRITE MEDICINES.

np~-sr~ ths Past Ten Years Many New
IDr-ss Have Been brought Into Service
eos Diseases and Complaints Which,
,,.onsh Common, Were Hard TO Treat.
Only few years ago coal tar was
fooked upon as waste product" AT
the present day. however, 1t is no longer
treated as such, for through the almost
reaseless activity Of the German chem
lists enough new remedies have already
been obtained from coal tar to fill good
bized pharmacop9ia.
About the first one Of these products
10 attract any considerable attention was
antipyrine. which made its appearance
come 10 years ago and became popular
iv known during the epidemic Of la
grippe Of several years ago. This was
koon followed by antifebrin, which, al
Enough it had new name, was an older
Erug than antipyrine, having been
known for several years rs acetanilid,
pa,ne derived from the substances from
(which il was made. IL is prepared by
she action OF acetic acid on aniline oil.
The acetanilid is now used by many
doctors in preference to antipyrine. The
principal features in its favor are small
mess of dose, less danger Of % depressing
effect on the heart and cheapness. The
price Of acetanihd is hardly ohe-tenth
kl.x - opt,p&riua
Phenacetine is another drug Of this
class which has met with much success
and apparently deservedly so. 1t has
been used with excellent results In the
treatment Of influenza. the hyper@sthe-
sis or soreness Of Ia grippe and rheuma-
4isn. both muscular and articular.
The drug is often combined with salol
and quinine In the treatment Of the above
mentioned affections, and the results re-
ported are invariably Of very satiSfac-
Tory nature.
/ One Of the most interesting of the coal
Tar derivatives is saccharin, a substance
that is ESQ times sweeter than sugar The
medicinal properties of this drug are an
tiseptic and sweetening. As a substi-
aute for sugar it is used in the dietary
Of govt, diabetes and all diseases in
which saccharine foods are contraindi-
Gated. II has also been used TO disguise
the taste Of medicines for children. To
give one on idea Of the sweetening power
of saccharin it is only necessary to say
that one grain Of the drug will sweeten
an ordinary cup Of coffee. If sugar were
used at least half ounce or table
spoonful, would be necessary.
In the treatment of mental disease sui
pbonal is considered a very valuable
agent. Tho drug could hardly have
achieved success had it been introduced
under It's chemical name, which contains
just two letters more than the entire al
phabet. Observation-Disclosures
Is the "jawbreaker" by whichitisknown
technically.
The value Of sulphonal as hypnotic
seems to be pretty well established. 1t
has been used with marked success in
The treatment Of sleeplessness caused by
fatigue and worry. II is also said to be
IF equal service in cases Of acute mania,
mbecility, melancholia, dementia, cpl
.epsy, hallucinations and acute alcohol
SIN. One observer stated that in every
ease treated "the slumber was accom-
panied by no disturbances Of circulation
or respiration and lasted from two to
i've hours or longer" From Is TO 80
grains are usually given as a dose. Even
n very large doses the digestive func-
ions are not disordered. and there are no
efter effects beyond slight
and O feeling of lassitude the
lext day.
In combination with hyoscine hydro
)romate, sulphonal is said to form very
rood treatment for the insomnia and
Of opium habitues. When a
,oal tar product is introduced, it can al
most be taken for granted that one of the
our medicinal properties is claimed for
{. The four properties are antipyretic,
'nalgesic, antiseptic and hypnotic.
Trional, which halls from Elberfeld,
Germany, is brought forward as candi-
late for therapeutic favor. It possesses
he last named property. Brie Of Bonn
las found trional Of value in treating in
'omnia or hysteria and neurasthenia in
'ases of great obstinacy and which had
allied to respond TO any other treatment
n maniacal excitement and paralytic
mania, he reports excellent results In 90
,er cent OF tho cases treated.
Salophen, although not distinctly q
coal tar derivative," is partly 80, as one
" It's component parts, carbolic acid, is
derived from coal tar. II is said to be
remedy in the treatment of ar
ocular rheumatism. The dose is from
o 10 20 grains three or four times day
The very latest in the long line of coal
ar products Is gallanol. 1t is prepared
~ boiling tannin with aniline. IL is in
as a substitute for pyrogalhc
lcid, having the advantage of being nom
oxic and nonirritant. In the treatment |
Il skin affections il has been used with
uccess.
Cazeneuve, the introducer of the drug, !
'eports great success in treating psoria-
lis by painting the spots with gallanol |
in chloroform and covering
hem with solution Of gutta purcha in |
called traumaticin. New !
York World.
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