PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

 OF THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 



Vol. I. 



New York, February, 1894. 



No. I. 



RELATIONSHIP BFTWEEN THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION AND THE PHYSI = 

 OLOQICAL ACTION OF THE NEWER SYNTHETIC REHEDIES. 



Delivered at the meeting of the Alumni Association, January loth, 1894. 



BY VIRGIL COBLENTZ, A.M., Ph.G., Ph.D. 



Professor of Theory and Practice of Pharmacy, Director of the Pharmaceutical Laborator^^ 



T^O the beginner or even the old stu- 

 dent, the vast array of the organic 

 formulae presented by the sj^nthetic 

 remedies, is at first confusing. However, 

 owing to the efforts of chemists, the entire 

 structure is built up so systematically, like 

 unto the various parts of a great build- 

 ing, each and every part has its exact 

 position and relationship to the general 

 whole, so that together they unite in 

 forming a uniform and perfect structure. 

 The wonderful combining capacity of 

 carbon gives rise to the infinite number 

 of compounds already known to exist, 

 and even as great a number theoretically 

 possible. The classification of these, 

 among which we have multitudes of 

 isomers is made a simple matter by the 

 use of graphic formulae and a systematic 

 nomenclature ; thus by means of this 

 configuration we are able to express 

 clearly and concisely at a glance, the 

 exact relationship these bodies possess, 

 one to another. 



Before presenting the subject proper, a 

 general survey of the field is necessary in 

 order that we may arrive at an intelligent 

 understanding of the subject. Methane 

 or marsh-gas CH4 furnishes us the theo- 

 retical source of all carbon compounds, 

 these being derived by the substitution 

 of one or more of its hydrogen atoms by 

 atoms or groups of other elements. These 

 derivatives of methane are classed under 

 the so-called " Paraffin Series." 



On replacing one or more ^ 



of the hydrogens in methane 

 by the halogens CI., Br. or 

 I. we give rise to H 



Mono chlor- me thane, or methyl chloride 

 CH, CI, a gas, by pressure and cold a 

 liquid, it is employed as a local anaesthe- 

 tic in minor surgical operations. 



Di chlor-methane or methylene chloride 

 CHoCL a liquid resembling chloroform 

 in many respects, employed as anaesthe- 

 tic. 



Tri-chlor- methane ox c^Xoxoiorm. CH CI3 



H— C— H 



