CHINOSOL AND ACETOZONE 407 



tar, and from it various bodies of the aromatic series are 

 prepared. It is a colourless, strong-smelling, volatile, anti- 

 septic liquid. Soluble in water, alcohol, ether, and oils. 

 It diminishes the reflex activity of the medulla and spinal 

 cord, notably of the respiratory centre, acting like the 

 alkaloid conine, to which it is chemically allied, and causes 

 death by asphyxia ; but is so rapidly eliminated by all the 

 excretory channels that large doses are required to kill. 

 As an inhalation it has been used in asthma and other cases 

 of difficult breathing. 



CHINOSOL, or oxyquinoline sulphonate of potassium, is a 

 derivative of coal-tar. It occurs as a yellow, crystalline 

 powder, with a faint odour, soluble in water, insoluble in 

 alcohol or ether. Its solution is unaffected by albumin. 

 Chinosol is antiseptic, antipyretic, styptic and disinfectant. 

 A solution of one part in forty thousand prevents bacterial 

 development, and a grain dissolved in six drachms of water 

 is stated to be equal in antiseptic power to a one in forty 

 solution of carbolic acid. Applied to wounds, the alkaline 

 discharges decompose it and liberate oxyquinoline, which 

 oxidises and disinfects. In the treatment of surgical cases 

 solutions varying from one in twelve hundred to one in 

 sixty have given most satisfactory results. Mixed with 

 boric acid, zinc oxide, or starch, it forms an excellent dry 

 dressing, and with collodion it is used for sealing small 

 wounds. Hobday considers that itfe action is better marked 

 when used in lotion than in powder. Concentrated solu- 

 tions should not be used to disinfect instruments as the drug 

 attacks steel. Chinosol has been used as an udder injection 

 in parturient apoplexy. For this purpose fifteen grains are 

 dissolved in a pint of water, and a fourth part injected into 

 each quarter. Chinosol can be obtained in tablets contain- 

 ing five, eight, and fifteen grains. 



ACETOZONE, or Benzoyl-Acetyl-Peroxide, occurs as a 

 white crystalline powder, sparingly soluble in water, and 

 decomposed by alkalies. As it acts on organic matters, 

 alcohol or glycerin should not be used in the preparation 

 of solutions. Acetozone is a powerful antiseptic, deodorant, 

 and germicide, and is said to be non- toxic and harmless to 

 animal tissues. It has been prescribed in diarrhoea. 



