NAPHTHALIN, NAPHTHOL, AND ALLIED COMPOUNDS. — Naphthalin, naphthalene, or tar-eamphor, is au hy drocarbon obtained from coal-tar. It oc curs in white scales, having a fatty lustre, a strong, coal-tar odor, and a burning, aromatic taste. lt is soluble in alcohol and ether, the fixed and volatile oils, and in acetic acid, but it is insoluble in water. It melts at 115° F. It should not give any reaction on moistened blue litmus paper, and should dissolve in concen trated sulphuric acid, when warmed gently, without color.
Dose.—Naphtlialin may be given in doses of 2 to 15 grains in powder or in capsule. The maximum daily dose is 90 grains.
Physiological Action.—Naplithalin is ? to ill, 1.1‘‘ r forms of life, insects, ir • N.1, t le., 1111(1 is therefore exten - t, it 1 t prcst ne clothing from the 1, :tr... t e tion of moths, etc. In the t;itz, it temporarily' irritates the ineml.rane, hut this effect be -,n Oft' active when naphthalin is td in oil or alcohol. Internally J,Iiii,11.-.ttred, the urine becomes dark t i.td, showing an irritant action upon the ' hullitys: an eruption simulating that of intasks, and followed by dcsquamation, lia4 htt.ii observed after its use. In ani mals. cataract has followed a continued administration of the drug.
Wishipg to prescribe naphthalin for a e,,k, amemie woman, suffering from thronie enteritis, effect of the drug was first tried personally, S grains in water being taken. Very soon the writer was suized ith severe colicky pains in the domen, followed almost immediately by diarrlaca, tenesmus, and strangury-.
The motions, w hicb were very numerous and small, NI ere at first fcal, but finally eentained a great deal of mucus. Four I ours after taking the drug vomiting set in. and continued for about fourteen urs. He could retain absclutely noth ing. Toward the end the vomited mat ter was slightly streaked with blood. About fifteen hours after taking the drug the pain became most agonizing. ''It seemed as if a red-hot iron were plunged into the kidneys with every heart-beat." This severe pain lasted for al out tw enty minutes. During this paroxysm the pulse was very slow, and almost imperceptible at the wrist. The urine w Ilia was passed soon after was reddish brown, and contained about 25 per cent. (by volume) of albumin. It alAo contained a few blood-clots, many glynular casts, urates, and mucus.
He continued very, ill for five davs. Temperature was all the time somewhat subnormal; the pulse was at first 45 Ter minute, but gradually, toward con valescence, rose to ES per minute. Re lief from pains v.-as obtained by liy,po dermies of morphine and by leeches over kidneys.
Prominent chemist in England ana lyzed a portion of the drug and he re ported the sample. to be above the aver age degree of purity. Otte (Med. Record, Apr. :30, '9S).
Therapeutics.—The therapeutic action of naphthalin depends upon its antisep tic and antiparasitic properties.