Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1893-10-14
COAL TAR PRODUCTS;
REMEDIES THAT HAVE BECOME IA.
VORITE MEDICINES.

For Diseases and Complaints Which,
Though Common, We're Hard to Treat.
Only a few years ago coal tar was
looked upon as a waste product" At
the present day, however, it is no longer
treated as such, for through the almost
ceaseless activity Of the German chem
lists enough new remedies have already
been obtained from coal tar to fill a good
sized pharmacop1ia.
About the first one of these products
to attract any considerable attention was
antipyrine, which made its appearance
some 1G years ago and became POPULAR
ly known during the epidemic of la
grippe of several years ago This was
soon followed by antifebrln, which, al
though it had new name, was an older
drug than Antipyrine, having. been
known for several years as acetanilia; i
name derived from the substances from
which it was m:de. 1t is prepared by
the action OF acetic acid on aniIine oil.
The acetanilid is now used by many
doctors in preference to antipyrine. The
principal features III its favor are small
ness of dose, less danger of depressing
effect on the heart and cheapness. The
price of acetanilid is hardly one-teuth
that of ;sntipyrine.
! Phenacetine is another drug of this
class which mas met with much success
and apparently deservedly so. It has
been used with excellent results in tho
treatment CT Influenza, the hypernsthe-
sia Or soreness of Ii grippe and rheuma-
tis1n. borh muscular and articular
The drug is often combined with salol
and Guinine IN the treatment of the above
mentioned affections, and the results re-
ported are invariably of a very satisfac-
tory nature.
One Of the most interesting Of the coal
tar derivatives is saccharin, a substance
| that is $50 times sweeter than sugar. The
medicinal properties Of this drug are an
tiseptic and sweetening. AS substi-
| tute for sugar it is used in the dietary
| of gout, diabetes ard all diseases in
which slccharine foods are contraindi-
Gated. 1t has also been used to disguise
the taste of medicines for children. To
give one an idea Of the sweetening power
that one grain Of the drug will sweeten
an ordinary cup Of coffee. If sugar were
used at least q half ounce or table,
spoonful, would be necessary.
In the treatment Of mental disease sui
phonal is considered very valuable
agent. The drug could hardly hayo
achieved success had it been introduced
| under its chemical name, which contains
just two letters more than the entire al
phabet. Diethylsulp phondimethyl ylmethan
is the "jawbrealser' by which it sknown
technically.
The value Of sulphonal as hypnotic
seems to be pretty well established. 1t
has been used with marked success in
the treatment of sleeplcssness caused by
fatigue and worry. 1t is also said TO lie
of equal service in cases of acute mania,
inheciEty, melancholla, dementia, epi-
lcpsy, halluci1lations and acute alcohol
ism. One observer stated that in every
case treated ''the slumber was accoaa-
panied by no disturbances of circulation
or respiration and lasted from two to
five hours or longer" From Is to 80
grains are usually given as dose. Even
il very large doses the digestive func-
tions are not disorlered, and there are no
disagreeable after effects beyond slight
drowsiness and a feeling of lassitude tho
next day.
In combination with hyoscine hydro
bromate, sulphonal is said to form very
good treatment for the insomnia and
restlessness Of opium habitues. When IL
coal tar product is introduced, it can a.
most be taken for granted that one of the
four medicinal properties is claimed for
it. The four properties are antipyretic,
analges;c, antiseptic and hypnotic.
Trional, which halls from Elberfeld.
Germany, i3 brought forward as candi-
date for therapeutic favor. 1t possesses
the last named property. Bcie of Bonn
has found trional Of value in treating in
sonnia or hysteria and neurasthenia in
cases of great obstinacy and which had
failed to respond to any other treatment.
In maniacal excitement and paralytic
mania, he reports excellent results in so
per cent Of the cases treated.
Salophen, although not distinctly
"coal tar derivative," is partly SO, as one
Of its component parts, carbolic acid, is
derived from coal tar. It is said to be n
valuable remedy in the treatment of ar
ticular rheumatism. The dose is from
Is to 20 grains three or four times day.
The very latest in the long line of coal
tar products is gallanol. 1t is prepared
by boiling tannin with aniline. 1t is in
troduced as q substitute for pyroga1lic
acid, having the advantage of being non
toxic and nonirritant. IN the treatment
IF skin affections it has been used with
5access.
Cazencuye, the introducer of the drug,
reports great success in treat ting psoria-
sis by painting tho spots with gallanol
suspended in chloroform and covering
them with solution Of gutta purcha in
rhloroforin, called traumaticin. New
York World.
Choice Woods ON the Farm.
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