Modifications of the creosote treatment are carried out, the chief of which is the administration by the mouth and hypodermically of Guaiacol, by many regarded as the active principle of the drug. It is given in the same doses as creosote, the routine being a 5-min. capsule 3 or 4 times a day. A favourite Continental method is to inject a mixture of Guaiacol and lodoform in sterilised Olive Oil and Vaseline, each c.c. of which is made to contain t cg. of iodoform and 5 cgs. of guaiacol, t to 3 c.c. being injected into the supraspinous fossa. Such a dose rapidly reduces fever temperature, but like the application of the pure drug to the skin for the same purpose it is not free from danger, as serious collapse has followed the smearing over of a patch of skin not larger than the palm of the hand with guaiacol, when oiled silk has been used to cover the surface. Durant's guaiacol injection resembles the iodoform emulsion, but contains free Iodine r, to of iodide of potassium mixed with 5 of guaiacol and too of olive oil.
Duotal or Guaiacol Carbonate is a white crystalline powder without taste; it may be given in 5 to S gr. cachets or capsules. Guaiacol Benzoate (Benzosol) and the Camphorate—Guaiacamphol—are similar compounds given in to-gr. tablets. The Cinnamate of Guaiacol (Stryacol) has its warm advocates; the drug is given in cachets of to to 15 grs. Thiocol (Potassium-guaiacol-sulphonate) is a favourite remedy in t5-gr. cachets. Quite a long list of other guaiacol compounds and derivatives are also in use, none of which, however, appear to possess any marked advantages over the pure drug.
A favourite modification of the creosote treatment is the administration of Creosotal (Creosote Carbonate), which is a syrupy and almost odourless liquid, which may be given in .1 tot dr. doses. The Valerianate (Eosote) is also vaunted; it is an oily liquid best administered in 5-min. capsules.
The Cinnamic Acid compounds have not maintained their reputation. They have been found to powerfully stimulate leucocytosis, and are believed to greatly aid the defensive mechanism of the body in phthisis. Hetol is the cinnamate of sodium, and is administered in 5-gr. doses in cachets. It has also been employed, dissolved in normal saline solution, as an intravenous injection, and glowing reports have been furnished of this method, which, however, is obviously not free from danger. Equally satisfactory results are obtainable by the injection hypodermically of the in io glycerin solution, which may also be administered in drachm doses by the mouth. Landerer commences with a dose of gr. of hetol
by the veins, and increases the amount in subsequent injections to gr., claiming a cure in 85 per cent. of cases.
Cinnamic or Cinnamylic Acid, whose dose by the mouth should not exceed gr. and by the veins gr., is now entirely replaced by its sodium salt—hetol. Cinnamal—the aldehyde from oil of cinnamon—is given in r-min. capsules, and the allied Coumarin salts and Martindale's Tyl marin are also in use, but probably Oil of Cinnamon in 5-min. capsules, or dissolved in cod-liver oil, will achieve all that is claimed for any of these derivatives.
Oil of Cloves and Oil of Eucalyptus and Camphor have been employed extensively, and appear to act in the same manner as the cinnamon oil and its compounds. Menthol and Oleum Menthes Pip. are now usually restricted to the cure of laryngeal phthisis by local application or by the method of intratracheal injection. Nearly every known volatile antiseptic oil has been tried and has enjoyed some brief reputation in phthisis.
The volatile sulphur oils contained in the onion, garlic and leek are of unquestionable benefit in relieving cough and altering the sputum. The Ally] sulphide given off by the pulmonary surface has marked antiseptic action, acting like the H,S which is eliminated after the administration of Sulphur. McDuffie's testimony with that of Minchin and others gives Garlic a very high place as a germicidal in phthisis and all forms of tuberculosis. The blood should be saturated with drachm doses of the juice by the mouth, inunction by the skin as by poultices, applying it between the skin of the feet and the stockings, eating it in soups, inhaling its vapour in hot water. All these methods may be employed simultaneously.
Ichthyol, owing to its containing sulphur, has been also freely admin istered in capsules containing 3o mins., and Witherle advocated the saturation of the blood with sulphur by administering i-gr. doses of Calcium Sulphide every hour. Sulphites and Hyposulphites have been recommended upon similar principles.
Compounds of Nucleinic Acid derived from yeast—Nucleins--have been extolled in phthisis upon the same considerations which have made hetol popular—viz., that they stimulate leucocytosis and exert a bactericidal action in the blood and tissues. 15 grs. nuclein (Nucleol) may be given by the mouth, or 15 mins. of the 5 per cent. solution of the acid may he injected hypodermically.