THIOSINAMINE — FIBROLYSIN 339 



spiritus sinapis. This is composed of volatile oil of mustard, 1 part, 

 alcohol, 50 parts. 

 Preparation. 



Emplastrum Sinapis. For external application. 



Action. If mixed into a paste with water and applied to 

 the skin mustard produces heat, redness, burning, pain, and if the 

 action or contact is prolonged, vesication. Since the vesicles do not 

 heal readily, mustard is used externally almost entirely as a rubi- 

 facient. It is very rapid in action. If applied as a paste or as the 

 official plaster, it is often very serviceable for the relief of pain in 

 various conditions, such as gastritis, pleurisy, pneumonia and rheu- 

 mastism. The plaster may be made as follows: Mustard or mus- 

 tard and flour in different strengths up to equal parts are mixed into 

 a paste with warm water, and either applied directly upon the part 

 or spread between two layers of muslin. Hot water should not be 

 used because it destroys the ferment which is required to produce 

 the irritant oil from the glucoside. The spirit can be used instead 

 of the plaster, and has the advantage of being more ' cleanly and 

 more easily removed. Plasters or other applications should be left 

 on for a short time only or until the skin becomes red, then removed, 

 as a general rule, but may be left longer if the pain still persists. It 

 is not a good plan, however, to repeat the plaster frequently for 

 counterirritant effect, because considerable irritation may result. 



Internally. Mustard is used as an emetic and carminative. As 

 an emetic it is very active and produces action by directly irritating 

 the walls of the stomach. It should be given in doses of one to two 

 teaspoonfuls in a half cup of tepid water, and repeated in a short 

 time if necessary. 



As a carminative it is entirely used for the large animals. It 

 appears particularly serviceable in old animals with intestinal 

 catarrh, due to atony of the bowels, and is often prescribed along 

 with JSTiTx vomica and Carlsbad salts for this condition. 



*Thiosinamine (allyl-sulphocarbamide). This is produced 

 by heating oil of mustard with alcohol and ammonia. The irritat- 

 ing properties of the oil are lost in the process. It occurs as a 

 white crystalline principle and has been recommended for destroying 

 scar tissue and in lupiis. It can be given dogs hypodermically in 

 doses of 1 or 2 grains in glycerin and water or by the moiith in daily 

 doses of 3 grains. The injection need not be at the site of the lesion. 

 The results of its use are still in some doubt. 



*Fibrolysin. This is the trade name for a sterile solution of a 

 double salt of thiosinamine and salicylate of soda. It is freely sol- 

 uble in water. It is equivalent in action to the first named niimber 

 of its constituents, but may be given subcutaneously, intramuscu- 

 * Unofficial. 



