METHACETIN. — Methacetin, para-ace tanisidin, or para-oxymethyl-acetanilid, is a homologue of phenacetin. This compound differs from phenacetin only in containing a methyl in place of an ethyl group. It occurs in a white micro crystalline powder of a feeble bitter taste, and is soluble in alcohol, chloro form, dilute acids and alkalies and slightly soluble in water (1 to 300). It is an antipyretic, antineuralgic, antisep tic, and antifermentative. It has been used in pneumonia, typhoid fever, phthisis, scarlet fever, rheumatism, and various forms of neuralgia, in doses of 4 to 8 grains for an adult and 2 to 5 grains for children. In phthisis its ac tion is not favorable, as it gives rise to copious diaphoresis.
Methacetin, employed in a series of observations in health and disease, was found to produce in all instances a low ering of the temperature, this being its most important action. In disease the
effects were more remarkable than in health. The affections treated were pul monary tuberculosis, typhoid fever, acute articular rheumatism, and pleu risy, and in these the diminution of tem perature under the influence of the drug was more or less pronounced, according to the case. Pescarolo (Gaz. degli Osp., Nov. 27, '89).
THYMACETIN.—Thymacetin is a deriv ative of thymol, and is closely allied to phenacetin. It bears the same relation to thymol that phenacetin does to phenol. It occurs as a white, crystal line powder, soluble in alcohol and ether, and slightly soluble in water. It is an analgesic, hypnotic, and antiseptic, and has been used in headache, neuralgia, paralysis, insomnia, and delirium, in doses of from 5 to 15 grains, three or four times daily, best given in capsules or wafers.