ACETIC ACID. — Acetic acid is an organic acid obtained from vinegar, of which it represents the active principle. It is also obtained from crude pyrolig neous acid. It is a clear, colorless fluid having a strong pungent odor and an intensely-acid corrosive taste. It con tains 3G per cent. of glacial acetic acid: a rnonohydrate presenting the physical properties of acetic acid, which, in turn, becomes crystalline at 3-1° F.
Dose.—The dilute acetic acid is offi cinally prepared by adding 1 part of acetic acid to 5 of water, and is used as a local astringent and stimulant.
Glacial acetic acid is employed as an escharotic. The crystalline form is mainly employed with sulphate of potas sium in the preparation of smelling-salts.
Experiments to ascertain whether acetic acid cannot be used instead of alcohol to avoid the dangers of the alco hol habit. Nux vomica, kola, cinchona, sanguinaria, ipecacuanha, and colchicum seed successfully exhausted with varying strengths of acetic acid. Joseph P. Rem ington (Amer. Jour. of Pharm, No. 3, p. 121, '97).
The constituents of acetic-acid prepa rations may be divided into (a) those which hasten the evaporation of the acetic acid (this group includes all pow dery substances—kieselgur is the most active, then comes kaolin; sulphur and flour have a slighter effect) ; and (b1 those which retard the evaporation of the acetic acid (glycerin comes first, then adeps benzoatus, and lastly vaselin). Following preparations of acetic acid recommended: 1. Adeps lance, 7 parts.
Acetic acid (30 per cent.), 7 parts.
Benzoated lard, 7 parts.
2. Adeps lance, 6 parts.
Acetic acid (30 per cent.), 7 parts. Benzoated lard, 2 parts.
Kaolin, 6 parts.
3. Glycerin, 5 pal ts.
Acetic acid (30 per cent.), 7 parts. Kaolin, 9 parts.
Following "acetic - acid - and - sulphur paste" is very useful in acne:— 4. Adeps lanes, 6 parts.
Acetic acid (30 per cent.), 7 parts. Benzoated lard, 6 parts.
Precipitated sulphur, 2 parts.
All these preparations contain 10 per cent. of anhydrous acetic acid, and con sequently are strong preparations of the acid. Unna (Treatment, vol. ii, p. 373,
'9S).
Physiological Action. — In free dilu tion acetic acid is an excellent antiseptic; but, administered without the admixture of bland liquids, it causes intense irrita tion, owing to its property of effecting a partial solution of albuminous bodies and of dissolving gelatinous tissues. Acetic acid combines with the alkaline bases within the system, forming acetates that are diuretic and diaphoretic.
Acetic-Acid Poisoning. — The escha rotic action of acetic acid, by manifesting itself upon the mucous membrane of the pharynx and larynx, is liable to cause oedema of the glottis: a danger to be at once thought of. The immediate mani festations are severe pain in the mouth, throat, oesophagus, and stomach, with retching and vomiting and other symp toms attending violent irritation of the -digestive tract.
Treatment of Acetic-Acid Poisoning.— Alkalies and demulcents should be em ployed. The bicarbonate of soda in free 'solution is an effective remedy. Ordinary soap—one containing an alkali—can be used in solution until an alkaline salt is available.
Therapeutics.—As an antiseptic, acetic acid is possessed of considerable power. As such it may either be applied locally or its fumes may be inhaled.
Good effects from inhalations of a 2 to 3-per-cent. solution of acetic acid in pachyderm ia laryngis associated with tuberculosis. Sittings lasting ten min utes three times a day and continued several weeks. Scheinmann (Berliner klin. Woch., Nov. 21, '91).
Acetic acid an excellent remedy in bronchitis and the broncho-pneumonia of children. Used in forty cases, in the form of inhalations. The acid is placed in a pan held over a lamp, and the patient, seated on a chair, is covered over with tents made of sheets. At first the lamp should be turned low, to avoid un due irritation of the larynx by an excess of fumes. To be used ten minutes at a time, four to six times daily, and during the night in the sleeping-room. B. W. Switzer (Med. World. Apr., '96).