Even when ingested in toxic quanti ties, the drug is but slightly eliminated by the expired air. Small amounts of the drug, however, may be met with in the lung-tissue. Paul Billet (Revue Med. de la Suisse Rom., June, July, '93).
After 15 7,-minim doses of guaiacol, slight appearances of poisoning may supervene. These are characterized by a burning feeling in the stomach, nausea, etc. Kohert ("Intoxicationen," '94).
Fifteen and a half minims of a mixt ure of guaiacol, 150 parts, and iodoform, 20 parts, injected into the knee-joint of a girl of S years suffering from fungous arthritis. Cyanosis, dyspncea, loss of consciousness, nausea, and temporary amanrosis supervened. Von 3[osetig Moorhof (Deutsche med. W'och., No. 7, '94).
Treatment of Guaiacol Poisoning.— Soluble sulphates (Epsom or Glauber's salt) may be given freely in conjunction with mucilaginous drinks. Digitalis and strychnine hypodermically injected are useful, associated with heat to the extremities and counter-irritation ap plied on the abdomen. Emetics and the stomach-pump are valuable if used early, before the drug has been absorbed.
Therapeutics. — Guaiacol has been chiefly used as a remedy in tuberculosis, as an antipyretic in fevers. It may be given in pill, in capsule, in an alcoholic or oily solution, or by hypodermic injec tion, dissolved in sweet almond-oil (equal parts), or in sterilized neutral olive-oil (1 to 5). Liquid guaiacol may be admin istered by its volatility adapt ing it for that purpose. It may also be given by inunction; the part being cleansed and dried, the guaiacol is painted over the surface, and after being left for about ten minutes the part is well rubbed and covered with some im permeable dressing. Its absorption is very rapid, guaiacol being found in the urine fifteen or twenty minutes after it is applied to the skin.
External applications of guaiacol in crease the utilization of albuminoids by the organism and absorption of fat and diminish oxidation. Caporali (Riforma Medica, No. 175, '94).
TinmicuLosis.—In the early stage of this disease guaiacol reduces the fever, restores the gastric and intestinal func tions, and improves the condition of the patient.
The principal results of clinical re search may be summarized as follows: 1. Gnaiacol is an excellent antipyretic.
2. The drug does not give rise to col lapse, even in phthisical subjects with large cavities. In these patients, how ever, the application is almost invariably followed in from two to four hours by perspiration and rigors. 3. Compresses are the best mode of application. 4. Chemically-pure crystalline guaiacol should be preferred to the ordinary fluid preparation. S. T. Bartoszewicz (Yujno Russkaia Med. Gazeta, Nos. 23, In tuberculosis to 2 '/, drachms applied to the extremities, back, and abdomen, and covered with cotton and gutta-percha. The action of the drug is manifested even in fifteen minutes. There is no irritation of the skin if the drug is of pure quality. S. Sciolla (Deutsche med. Woch., No. 22, '93).
Four cases of tubercular disease in which the local application of guaiacol caused a marked reduction of the tem perature. Guaiacol may be painted over the thigh or the back, the part being covered with an impermeable towel. Dosage can thus easily be managed. The quantity at the beginning was '/, drachm, this amount being decreased at each treatment. The antipyretic action of guaiacol, employed as described, is not confined to tuberculous cases, but has given the same satisfactory results in pyrexias of erysipelas and pneumonia. L. Bard (Lyon MCA., June 4, '93).
Carbonate of guaiacol, a 20-per-cent. solution in olive-oil, recommended in all forms of cystitis, hut especially in the tuberculosis variety. From 15 to 30 minims to be used once or twice a day; the addition of iodoform, 1 per cent., increases the efficacy. Colin (Jour. de Med., Jan. 20, '96).
Sehetelig's method of giving pure guaiacol subcutaneously in acute pul monary tuberculosis tried: 3 hypodermic doses, I of 15 minims and 2 of 10 min ims. at four hours' interval, in one case brought the temperature from 104° F. to normal, with rapid amelioration of all the symptoms. Cuaiacol is especially useful in the fever of the suppurative stage of the disease. A moderate per spiration usually follows the injection. Coghill (Brit. Med. Jour.. Mar. 7. '96).