The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-08-23
COAL TAR PRODUCTS.
REMEDIES THAT HAVE BECOME FA-
VoRlTE MEDICINES.

During the Past Ten Years Many New
Drugs Have Been Brought Into Service
For Diseases and Complaints which.
Though Common. Were Hard to Treat.
Only few years ago coal tar was
looked upon as ''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 good
sized pharmacop9ia.
About the first one of these products
to attract any considerable attention was
antipyrine, which made its appearance
some 10 years ago and became popular
ly known during the epidemic of Ia
grippe of several years ago. This was
soon followed by antifebrin, which, al
though it had new name, was an older
drug than antipyrine, having been
known for several years as acetanilid, n
name derived from the substances from
which it was made. 1t is prepared by
the 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
ness of dose, less danger Of depressing
effect on the heart and cheapness. The
price of acetanilid is hardly one-tenth
that of antipyrine.
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 hyperesthe-
sia or soreness of la grippe and rheuma-
tism, 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 a very satisfac-
tory nature.
One of the most interesting of the coal
tar derivatives is saccharin, substance
that is $50 times sweeter than sugar. The
medicinal properties of this drug are an
tiseptic and sweetening. AS a substi-
tute for sugar it is used in the dietary
of gout, diabetes and all diseases in
which saccharine foods are contraindi.
Gated. 1t has also been used to disguise
the taste of medicines for children. TIC
give one an 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
phonal is considered very valuable
agent. The drug could hardly have
achieved success had it been introduced
under its chemical name, which contain,
just two letters more than the entire al
phabet. Observation-Disclosures
is the "jawbreaker" by which it isknowI
technically.
The value OF sulphonal as q hypnotic
seems to be pretty well established. /
has been used with marked success il
the treatment Of sleeplessness caused by
fatigue and worry. 1t is also said to b'
of equal service in cases of acute mania
imbecility, melancholia, dementia, epi
lepsy, hallucinations and acute alcohol
ism. One observer stated that in ever,
case treated "the slumber was accom-
panied by no disturbances Of circulation
or respiration and lasted from two t,
five hours or longer" From 10 to 81
grains are usually given as dose. Ever
in very large doses the digestive func
tions are not disordered, and there are NJ
disagreeable after effects beyond Sigh
drowsiness and feeling of lassitude tn,
next day.
In combination with hyoscine hydro
bromate, sulphonal is said to form yer,
good treatment for the insomnia ant
restlessness of opium habitues. When I
coal tar product is introduced, it can al
most be taken for granted that one of tn,
four medicinal properties is claimed fol
it. The four properties are antipyretic
analgesic, antiseptic and hypnotic.
Trional, which halls from Elberfeld
Germany, is brought forward as candi
date for therapeutic favor. 1t possesse
the last named property. Brie Of Bonn
has found trional of value in treating in
somnia or hysteria and neurasthenia ii
cases Of great obstinacy and which ha,
failed to respond to any other treatment