ANILINE is now universally regarded as, in a technological point of view, one of the most important organic compounds yet discovered (see DYE-STUFFS). Its chief physical and chemical characters are described under the head of Phenyl (q.v.), an organic radical, represented by which, if aniline is (as Hofmann believes) a derivation of ammonia, replaces one of the atoms of hydrogen, yielding II N, or which Ii is the formula for this compound. There is one salt of aniline which requires notice, because its therapeutic value has been highly praised—viz., the sulphate of aniline, which is prepared by- saturating a certain amount of aniline with dilute sulphuric acid, evaporating to dryness, and extracting the residue with boiling alcohol, which, on cooling, leaves white silvery scales of sulphate of aniline. To obtain the salt quite pure, it may be dissolved and separated a second time, after which it must be preserved in well-stoppered bottles. The importance which the aniline manufacture as a dye-stuff has acquired dur ing the last few years has led to the study of its physiological, therapeutical, and toxicological properties, and hence to the hygienic precautions which should be adopted in the chemical works devoted to its preparation, as well as to the influences which the aniline colors may exert on those who employ them in dress, etc.
The physiologleal action of aniline has been recently studied by nearly a dozen inde pendent observers, and the following are the principal results at which they have arrived: (a) \Then administered internally in a moderate dose, this substance causes a considerable muscular excitement, lasting for some minutes, and then gradually dis appearing. When given in apoisorunis.dose, it causes an immediate flow of viscid saliva, from which the animal tries to free itself by rubbing its mouth on the ground; in about ten minutes it becomes quiet and dull, and coldness supervenes, which continues and increases till death. The other most apparent. symptoms are convulsive spasms, which first affect the hind legs, but soon extend to the anterior extremities. The eyelids are widely separated, while the pupils are somewhat contracted; and the tumultuous beating of the heart and the hurried respiratory movements show that the convulsive state of the other muscles has extended to those which regulate the most important vital functions. From 10 10 13 drops of aniline will thus prove fatal to a rabbit or to a dog of medium size. In still larger doses the poison causes the animal's head to be convulsively drawn
backwards, and death rapidly ensues. On examination after death, an odor of aniline is found to be given off by the blood, whose globules, when microscopically examined. are found to be partially disintegrated and deprived of their red pigment. (6) Its effects on animals, as well as those of nitro-benzine, from which it is produced, when inhaled in a state of rapor, have been carefully studied by M. Bergerow, whose experiments were so arranged as imitate the conditions to which workmen are exposed in the aniline manufactories. As might be expected, the effects of aniline are slower and less marked than when the substance is introduced into the stomach, but are of the same character— the spinal cord and muscular system being more or less excited,. while the vapor of nitro-benzine, which seems to act primarily on the brain, causes stupor. On the whole, the experiments tended to show that aniline, notwithstanding the terrible spasmodic symptoms which it excites, is less serious in its consequences and more transient in its action than nitro-benzine. The phenomena observed in experiments on animals closely 'correspond with those which have been observed in eases in which man has been exposed to the noxious vapor. The following case recorded by Mr. Knaggs seems well to illustrate the effects of inhaling a large dose of aniline vapor: A workman broke a carboy containing a large quantity of this liquid, which fell over him without entering his month. In to wipe up the aniline, he respired the vapor for some time, felt giddy, and complained of his head and chest. When seen some hours afterwards, his face and body were of a livid leaden blue; the lips, gums, tongue, and eyes of a corpse like bluff h he was breathing by gasping., and appeared at the point of death. There was then uo convulsion, and he was quite sensible. Hit pulse was small and irregular. Under very energetic treatment (alcohol, ammonia, chloric ether, internally, and cold affusions and sinapisms externally), he recovered. According to Dr. Letheby, who has reported a similar case, the aniline undergoes changes in the blood similar to those which it undergoes in the formation of the dye-stuffs; andthe mauve, magenta, etc., that are thus formed in the circulation, occasion the blue or violet color which the gums and mucous membrane of the mouth present in these cases.