ERNEST LAPLACE, Philadelphia.
ANTIPYRINE.—Phenazonum (Br. Ph.); antipyrinum (Ger. Ph.). Antipy rine is an alkaloidal product from the destructive distillation of coal-tar, dis covered by Knorr. It is known chemic ally as dimethyl-oxy-quinizine of phe nyl-dimethyl-pyrazole (organic base from oxyphenyl-methyl-pyrazole). It is known also as analgesine, methozine, parodyne, phenylone, and sedatine. It occurs as a fine, white, crystalline powder, and is soluble in chloroform, in an equal weight of water, in 2 parts of alcohol, and in 50 parts of ether. It melts at 105° to 113° C. (210° to 235.4° F.) according to dry ness. It has antipyretic, analgesic, seda tive, styptic, and antiseptic properties. The following substances incompatible with antipyrine are said to precipitate the drug from concentrated solutions: Carbolic acid in saturated solution, tannin (a white insoluble precipitate), mercuric chloride (white precipitate soluble in an excess of water), infusion and tincture of catechu; infusion, fluid extract, and tincture of cinchona-bark; infusion of rose-leaves, infusion of uva ursi, tincture of hamamelis, tincture of iodine (precipitate soluble in water), tincture of kino, tincture of rhubarb; solutions of chloral, arsenic, and mer cury; and alkalies.
In the following mixtures antipyrine is decomposed: Calomel forms with anti pyrine a toxic combination; antipyrine in decomposed when rubbed up with betanaphthol; with chloral, antipyrine forms an oleaginous liquid; with sodium bicarbonate it disengages the odor of ether; with equal parts of sodium salicy late it forms an oleaginous mixture.
The following substances produce col oration when added to aqueous solutions of antipyrine: Hydrocyanic acid: dilute solution—yellow; nitric acid: dilute solution—pale yellow; ammonia alum: dilute solution—dark yellow; amyl-ni trite: acid solution — green; nitrous ether: alcoholic solution — green; fer rous phosphate: yellow-brown; ferric sulphate: blood-red; ferric chloride: blood-red; syrup of iodide of iron: red brown.
Dose.—The usual dose for adults is 15 grains in powder or dissolved in water, syrup, or elixir, every two to six hours, or four or five times daily. The maxi
mum single dose for an adult is 20 grains. The maximum doses for children are: 6 months to 1 year, 3 grains; 1 to 3 years, 4 to 5 grains; 4 to 5 years, 4 V., to 6 grains; 6 to S 7 to 9 grains; 10 ally, it will be found that small doses, repeated at intervals of two hours, are attended with therapeutic effects and with less danger of untoward symptoms than larger doses given at longer inter vals.
Caution against the simultaneous use of antipyrine and calomel. Their reac tions result in the formation of a danger ous amount of corrosive sublimate, even when ordinary medicinal doses arc given. H. Werner (Pharm. Zeit., June 10, '96). Antipyrine and sodium salicylate can not be dispensed together in powder form; immediately, or within a short time, liquefaction takes place, and when the powders reach the patient he is likely to find no powder at all, but only thoroughly soaked pieces of paper. W. J. Robinson (N. Y. Med. Jour., Oct. 30, '97).
In giving the drug the personal idio syncrasy of the patient should be con sidered, as well as the integrity of the urinary and cardiac functions. A dose which would be safe for a person with healthy heart and kidneys might cause dangerous symptoms in a case where these organs are diseased. (Lepine.) Case of idiosyncrasy to antipyrine. Author suffered from migraine and used to be in the habit of taking 15 grains of antipyrine during the attacks. These were followed by the occurrence of small, aphthous ulcers on the mucous mem brane of the lips, cheeks, and tongue, which healed very slowly. Another time his lower lip became swollen and oedema tous, and in two hours an ulcer appeared on the tongue. Several others shortly afterward formed on the lips and cheeks, and took fourteen days to heal. In ad dition he suffered from dermatitis about the genital region. Another case of the same nature met with in practice. In tolerance of the same kind gradually developed in him to all drugs of the same class, — quinine, antifebrin, phenacetin, and sodium salicylate,—which he had used to check the migraine. Steinhardt (Ther. Monat., Nov., '93).