As an anTsthetic in cases of parturi tion, antipyrine is useless for the pains of a perfectly normal labor, but finds its chief value in those cases where the pains are so excessive as to reflexly inter fere with the proper uterine contractions. It is also useful when the liquor amnii has been discharged too early and where there is rigidity of the os. In regard to the second stage of labor, antipyrine is useless. There is evidence, however, that antipyrine has considerable ability to re lieve the so-called after-pains. It is also seemingly a fact that antipyrine may be used with some success for the purpose of quieting a tendency to the development of pains before the full term has been reached. If it is intended to use anti pyrine for the purpose of arresting a threatened miscarriage, then its dose must be very large: as much as 30 or 40 grains given in two or three doses of 15 grains each, at half-hour or hour in tervals. (Misrachi, Hare.) Antipyrine has a powerful hoemostatic action when applied locally. It acts by vasoconstriction and retraction of the tissues, with the formation of a minute clot, which is extremely retractile and aseptic. In epistaxis antipyrine may be employed in a 20- to 50-per-cent. solu tion to the bleeding-point by means of a tampon. For ordinary use as an htumo static, a 10-per-cent. solution is sufficient. Park, of Buffalo, advises a sterilized 5 per-cent. solution used as a spray, on compress, or as injection.
Antipyrine is particularly indicated in epistaxis, in a or V, solution to the bleeding-point by means of a tampon. For ordinary use as an a solution is sufficient. It is also of value in dental, tonsillar, and uterine Inemorrhages. X. Grepin (These de Paris, July, '95).
Hypodermic Use.—Antipyrine has been used subcutaneously in various affections, but its use in this way is followed by ex cruciating pain, which lasts about half a minute, and by abscess and gangrene in some cases. Such injections are believed to be particularly injurious where neu ritis is the prominent lesion.
Since the beginning of hypodermic treatment, some way of administering quinine in this way needed, especially in severe malaria. The difficulty may be overcome by using Laveran's formula. (hydrochlcrate of quinine, 3; antipy rine, 2; distilled water, 6), giving a 50-per-cent. solution, of which the injec tion is painless. This solution, exten sively used by Blum in 1S94 during a severe malarial epidemic in Algiers, was always found satisfactory Santesson (Deut. rued. Woch., B. 2, Sept., '97).
Therapeutics.—As already stated, anti pyrine is especially useful in reducing very high temperature when unassociated with weak heart. For this reason it is valuable in the typhoid fever of children. It not only causes the desired reduction in temperature, but also has a happy effect in calming the restlessness and dis tress caused by the action of the toxins upon the nervous system. In the pneu monia of children it has been found to be equally valuable, and it is a desirable remedy in the fever accompanying the exanthemata (measles, scarlatina, etc.).
In healthy children antipyrine is the most active drug in causing perspiration: next in activity is phenacetin: sodium salicylate and quinine scarcely any influence whatever; acetanilid causes a diminution. In febrile children acetan ilid increases the perspiration most ;.
antipyrine not to the same degree; while sodium salicylate, quinine, and phenaca tin cause suppression of the secretion.
Ssokolow (Wratsch, Nos. 14, 16, 21, '93).
In influenza it not only controls the febrile movements, but relieves the pain and quiets the nervous system, but its depressing effects are sometimes harm ful. In the hectic fever of tuberculosis it will sometimes be useful; but, as it influences the extension of the disease but slightly, if at all, and causes profuse diaphoresis and depression, other reme dies are to be preferred.