The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-05-13
TIE VIRTUES OF VERONAL
A eep-Producing Drug Which to
All Appearances Is Perfectly
Harmless.

Nerouai di-ethy malonyl-urea. was
introduced by Fischer and Won Mering
as the result OF a systematic investiga-
ton into the hynotic properties OF GER
tain derivatives containing ethyl
groups II is a colorless. crystalline
body. sparingly soluble in cold water
readily soluble in hot water. says Alfred
G. Jordan. NJ. d., in the British Medical
Journal II has a bitter taste. but DC
smell II is most conveniently given
in the form Of "tabloids." or in the form
OF chocolate tablets which can be dis.
solved in hot milk. Both the tabloids'
and the chocolate tablets contain half &
gram each (seven and one-half gram
OF veronal.
II has already been used in a large
number OF cases OF insomnia. and tho
results have been published in the case
Of more than 1000 patients. and in &
great variety OF diseases. including pure
insomnia: various diseases. functional
and organic. OF the central nervous sys
tenn: acute febrile conditions: diseasei
Of the heart. lungs. kidneys. and liver
even in their most advanced stages.
The doses used range from OBS gran
TO SIS grams In most cases a dose Of
0.5 gram az gr) has sufficed to produce
sleep within an hour. lasting. with per.
haps one or two brief interruptions
seven or eight hours The sleep is in.
distinguishable from natural sleep. ana
the patient awakes feeling refreshed
frequently speaking with enthusiasm
The patients never complained Of any
unpleasant after effects when II wai
given in this dose. In some cases ever
smaller doses we're found 10 suffice Il
give the patient eight hours sleep
This was the case in weak women suf
fering from heart disease with failing
compensation. advanced phthisis ano
diabetes mellitus respectively. Again
in many rases where patient had pre-
viously received O.5 gram veronal. il was
found possible TO reduce the dose 10 one
half after a few days No remote after
effects Of any kind have been observed
to follow the use OF veronal II has ne
action on the cardiac or respiratory cen.
ters. does not appreciably influence tn,
blood pressure. and is without action OF
the liver and Kidneys. The urine re.
mains normal. free from albumen anC
blood pigment Veronal is not a diuret
ic. as It's chemical relation to urea nigh
suggest To this immunity from hac
effects on the vital organs Is due III,
great importance OF veronal For II car
be given without hesitation and with ex
cellent results in cases Of severe hear
disease with falling compensation II
cases Of phihisis. early or advanced. II
other pulmonary diseases. and in kidney
disease
AS regards the induction Of a verona
habit" Lilienfeld and others have nevel
found It necessary 10 increase the dose
indeed. in most cases. 1t has been pos
sible to reduce the oose after few days
and frequently a single moderate dost
OF 05 gram hs- sufficed 10 procure fol
the patient a succession OF four or five
nights Of good sleep Berent, however
found II necessary in some cases 10 In
crease the dose after few days. or t.
substitute some other hypnotic. such AZ
triona.. eor few days. To conclude
II seems clear that veronal Is proving
10 be useful and apparently Harmless
means OF producing seen