586 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



bases, many of comparatively simple structure, which exercise 

 a marked solvent action on uric acid. 

 Piperazine, or diethylenediamine (XL.) : 



/CH 2 . CH,v /N- CH 2 -N 



NH \CH CH/ NH CH N / CH2 CH '\ / CH2 



XL. XLL 



is prepared by the interaction of ammonia and ethylene 

 dibromide ; it is administered both in the free state and also 

 in the form of its salts, such as the phosphate or tartrate. The 

 internal application of piperazine is followed by an increased 

 elimination of urates from the system, and it is accordingly 

 indicated in cases of chronic gout. Dimethylpiperazine, XLII. 



/CH 2 . CH(CH 3 k / NH . CH 2 



NH( >NH CH 3 .C< | 



\CH 2 . CH(CH 3 )/ XX N CH, 



XLII. XLIII. 



(as the bitartrate, lycetol), has also been employed in this 

 connection, and so also has lysidine, ethylene-ethenyldiamine 

 (XLIII.), a base isomeric with piperazine, which in the form 

 of its bitartrate is stated by Meister, Lucius & Bruning to 

 dissolve eight times more uric acid than piperazine. 



Hexamethylenetetramine (XLL), the base produced by the 

 interaction of formaldehyde and ammonia employed in the 

 form of its salt with anhydromethylenecitric acid 



rH 2/0"\ r /CH 2 .C0 2 H 

 Uil \C0 2 / \CH 2 . C0 2 H 



and even the sodium salt of this methylenecitric acid alone, 

 have been employed in this connection, the former under the 

 name of helmitol, the latter being termed citarin. Hexamethy- 

 lenetetramine itself has found employment as a diuretic and 

 solvent of uric acid concretions under the name of urotropine. 



Synthetical Drugs containing Metallic or Metalloidal 



Elements 



There is a growing tendency to employ in therapeutics the 

 organic derivatives of the metals and metalloids in preference 

 to their inorganic compounds, as it not infrequently happens 

 that in this way the element is more readily tolerated, and 

 consequently can be administered with safety in larger doses. 



