388 PARALDEHYDE 



lasts from one to six hours, according to the dose administered 

 and the susceptibility of the patient. Doses, grs. xx. to 

 grs. cl. per day, in simple syrup, pill, or powder. 

 ^HYPNONE or ACETOPHENONE (C 8 H 8 0) is a volatile, 

 colourless liquid, with a fragrant odour ; insoluble in water, 

 but soluble in glycerin, almond oil, alcohol, ether, chloro- 

 form, and benzine. It is a local irritant. In the horse it 

 does not induce sleep, but it is a serviceable hypnotic for 

 the dog, administered in doses of TT[v. to H\xxx., in gelatin 

 capsules, emulsion, or in glycerin and spirit. 



AMYLENE HYDRATE (C 5 H 2 O), a colourless, oily liquid, 

 with an odour of camphor and an acrid taste, and soluble in 

 eight parts of water, is a powerful hypnotic for the dog, 

 inducing profound sleep, lasting several hours, without 

 sensibly disturbing the heart or modifying blood pressure, 

 but lowering the temperature of the body. Thirty minims 

 of amylene hydrate produce the same effects as fifteen grains 

 of chloral (Gobert). It may be given to dogs in doses of 

 TT[xv. to TT[L, in capsule, or dissolved in alcohol and water. 



PARALDEHYDE 

 A polymeric modification of Aldehyde. (C 2 H 4 O) 3 . 



Paraldehyde is a colourless fluid, soluble in ten parts 

 of water, still more soluble in glycerin, and of a disagreeable, 

 persistent, nitrous odour and taste. 



ACTIONS AND DOSES. It is antiseptic, hypnotic, and 

 slightly diuretic. It hinders fermentation, and flesh placed 

 in a two per cent, solution has been kept fresh for two 

 months. It is a more effectual hypnotic than hypnone or 

 urethane, but does not produce sleep in man or dogs as 

 readily as opium or chloral, while horses are brought under 

 its soporific effects with still greater difficulty. Frohner, 

 experimenting on horses, found that 200 grammes (about 

 7 fluid ounces) produced only slight trembling, vertigo, and 

 staggering ; 450 grammes induced powerful trembling, 

 yellow-red colouring of the visible mucous membranes, the 

 presence of haemoglobin in the urine, but no sleep ; the 

 effects passed off in an hour; 500 grammes caused staggering, 



