386 SULPHONAL 



and has no influence on the heart. Administered by the 

 mouth it produces sedative and antiseptic effects upon the 

 gastric mucous membrane, and is a very useful remedy for 

 obstinate vomiting in the dog. It may also be prescribed 

 for epileptic fits, chorea, and colic, and to quieten patients 

 during operation under local anaesthesia. If a dose of 

 chloretone be given to the dog an hour before inducing 

 general anaesthesia, much less of the anaesthetic will be 

 required, vomiting does not so readily occur and there will 

 be less struggling. Combined with boric acid, as in boro- 

 chloretone (Parke, Davis and Co.), it forms a valuable 

 antiseptic and soothing application for wounds. Doses 

 for the dog, grs. v. to grs. x. 



SULPHONAL, 



DlMETHYL-METHANE-DIETH YLSULPHONE (CH 3 ) 2 C ( S 2 C 2 H 5 ) 2 . 



A product of the oxidation of Mercaptol, obtained from 

 Acetone and Mercaptan (B.P.). 



Sulphonal is a complex compound of the methane series, 

 crystalline, colourless, inodorous, nearly tasteless, neutral, 

 melting at 258 Fahr., sparingly soluble in cold water, 

 soluble in ninety parts of cold rectified spirit, in ether, and 

 chloroform. 



ACTIONS AND USES. In man it is ' a useful hypnotic, pro- 

 ducing sleep, and in most cases having no disagreeable after 

 effects, even when used continuously for a length of time ' 

 (Brunton). In men and dogs it is more effectual as a sleep 

 producer than paraldehyde, but less so than morphine. 

 Dogs, whether healthy or sick, receiving it either by the 

 mouth or subcutaneously, sleep quietly for six to ten hours 

 (Frohner). Kaufmann hypodermically injected dogs weigh- 

 ing ten kilogrammes with two grammes, and reports ataxia, 

 shortly followed by calm and profound sleep, and without 

 any untoward effects. He recommends it in canine subjects 

 in neuroses characterised by agitation and hyper-excita- 

 bility. Horses and cattle resist its hypnotic action as they 

 do that of opium. Instead of calming and paralysing their 

 higher cerebral centres, it primarily and prominently 



