NERVOUS DISORDERS. — Spasmodic asthma is much relieved by eucalyptol given by steam-inhalation. Cigarettes made from eucalyptus-leaves alone, com bined with stramonium, belladonna, to bacco, etc., give similar relief. Pertussis has been relieved by a mixture of 1 part each of eucalyptus-oil and terebene, and 6 parts of alcohol, used in spray half an hour before meals and at bed-time (Hat dwicke). Malarial or congestive head ache may be relieved by oil of eucalyptus, 5 minims being given four or six times daily.
EUROPHEN.—Europhen, or iodo-di iso-butyl-ortho-cresol, is the result of the action of iodine on iso-butyl-alcohol and ortho-cresol with zinc chloride by heat (Merck). It is allied to aristol and ap pears as a light, dull-yellow, amorphous, aromatic powder, which is soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, and oils, but insoluble in glycerin or water. It has an aromatic odor, like saffron, but has no taste. It is stable when kept dry. On prolonged exposure to moisture it is de composed, setting free nascent iodine. If heated to 15S° F. in the presence of water it is decomposed; hence heat should not be employed in making solutions of it. It contains 2S.1° of iodine (Merck). It was introduced as a substitute for iodoform. Europhen is incompatible with the metallic oxides, all preparations of mercury, and starch.
Dose and Physiological Action.—In ternally the close is 1 to 3 grains. By hypodermic injection (in a 3-per-cent. to 10-per-cent. solution in olive-oil) the dose is 1 to 1 grains, once daily. Ex ternally, it is used in 5-per-cent. to 10 per-cent. ointment, dissolved in olive-oil or lanolin (5 per cent. to 30 per cent.), as a dusting-powder (1 part to 3 of boric acid), in 10-per-cent. gauze, or pure.
The therapeutic value of europhen de pends upon the liberation of iodine when it is exposed to moisture. In this its action is similar to that of iodoform; but europhen parts with its iodine more slowly, even under the most favorable conditions; and while it is thus less poisonous than iodoform it is also, for the same reason, less efficient.
Case of gummy of the thigh previously treated with iodoform without ill effects. Europhen was applied and gave rise to a severe exudative erythema of the thigh and a follicular erythema of the leg. IL W. Taylor (Jour. Cut. and Gen.-Grin. Dis., vol. viii, Dec., '95).
On the other hand, it is more bulky, will go farther, and is less likely to cake than iodoform. Its properties are those of an antiseptic, antisyphilitic, and alter ative. It exerts a kolyseptic action upon micro-organic growth.
Therapeutics.—Europhen is not gen erally given by the mouth, although it has been administered in syphilis, in doses of to 2 grains. It is not con
sidered poisonous; as much as 23 grains has been taken daily for three weeks without any appreciable disturbance. It is believed that europhen taken inter nally passes through the bowels almost unchanged. The hypodermic use of europhen has not met with much favor, and, although tried in the treatment of syphilis, it has not yielded the results anticipated. As a surgical dressing and in some cutaneous disorders, principally those presenting moist or secreting sur faces, europhen has found great favor.
WOUNDS.—In recent wounds of trau matic origin europhen has proved of great usefulness, showing a high effi ciency as an antiseptic dressing. Great drying powers without local irritation and absence of odor are the principal advantage of europhen over iodoform. All kinds of wounds heal quickly under it. It has been used with great success after superficial operations, such as re moval of skin tumors, circumcision, and cauterization. In post-operative fistula it has been found better than iodoform. Erosions, fissures, and sinuses may be dusted with europhen and then covered with 10-per-cent. europh en gauze.
Europhen recommended as the best substitute for iodoform; it does not irritate inflamed skin. In varicose ulcers, with eczema, europhen is of much value, for it has a beneficial effect on the eczema. It may be applied in powder, either alone or mixed with powdered boric acid. As an application in the intertrigo of children the author recommends: Europhen, I V, drachms.
Lanolin. anhydr.. 1 '/, drachms. Talc. venet., ad 3 ounces.—M.
It is of much value in pustular affec tions and folliculitis, in the form of a 10-per-cent. ointment with lanolin, as well as in cases of pemphips vulgaris and impetigo.
It may be used to replace iodoform in the collodion used for sealing up small operation-wounds. Another advantage of this preparation is its power of arresting haemorrhage, which makes it a useful application after the puncture of acne pustules or the scarification of rosacea. Saalfeld (Lewin's Festschrift, Berlin, '90).
Europhei, Castor-oil, of each, I part. Collodion, 10 parts.
M. To be used as an application to wounds. De MolCncs (Jour. de med. de Paris, Feb. 27, '9S).
Experiments with the various newer local antiseptics. Europhen is just as efficacious and entirely free from the objections that frequently attend the use of newer preparations. Its odorlessness and its lightness combine to make it more agreeable and economical to use than iodoform, while in efficacy it is sec ond to none of the agents of its class. Saalfeld (Ther. Monats., xiv, No. 3, p. 139, 1900).