196 INORGANIC AGENTS 



Aristol is now official as thymolis iodidum, thymol iodide. 



It is more correctly dithymol-diiodide, obtained by the condensation of two 

 molecules of thymol and the introduction of two atoms of iodine into the phenolic 

 groups of the thymol; it contains 45 per cent, of iodine. 



Properties. — A bright, chocolate-colored or reddish-yellow, bulky powder, with 

 a very slight aromatic odor. 



Insoluble in water and glycerin; slightly soluble in alcohol; readily soluble in 

 ether, chloroform, collodion, and in fixed and volatile oils. 



Aristol is inferior as an antiseptic to either iodoform or iodol. It 

 is used with some benefit in dry^ scaly skin diseases in powder or oint- 

 ment. Aristol is useful on sores, wounds and ulcerations which have a 

 tendency toward dryness as it seems to increase moisture. Other anti- 

 septic dusting powders include acetanilid, bismuth subnitrate, salol and 

 boric acid. Acetanilid has been shown to be a good antibacterial agent. 

 It is cheap and may be applied pure, and it is an efficient substitute for 

 iodoform. A few cases of poisoning have been reported following its 

 extensive surgical use. Bismuth subnitrate and salol may induce poison- 

 ing when used over large surfaces. They are dessicants and feeble anti- 

 septics. Boric acid is harmless and mildly antiseptic. 



ORTHoroRM. Orthoform. (Non-Official.) 

 Orthoform is the methyl-erster of meta-amido-paraoxy-benzoic acid. It 

 occurs as a white or dirty yeUow, light powder, sparingly soluble in water and 

 alcohol but more so in glycerin and solutions of the mineral acids. It may be 

 combined with iodoform, aristol, boric acid, salicylic acid, carbolic acid, turpentine 

 and iodine without incompatibility. 



Action. — Externally, orthoform exerts a powerful anesthetic effect 

 on raw surfaces, but has little action on intact mucous membranes and 

 none on the unbroken skin. It is also a mild antiseptic, of about the same 

 value as boric acid. It is but feebly toxic and poisoning does not occur 

 unless large quantities are applied over abraded surfaces. In the dog, 15 

 grains per 2 pounds of body weight have proved toxic when given by the 

 mouth ; and 7% grains per 2 pounds of live weight are required to induce 

 fatal poisoning. It appears to be a cerebro-spinal paralysant in these 

 large doses. The anesthetic action of medicinal doses is usually pro- 

 longed, varying from a few hours to two or three days, Orthoform has 

 been used extensively in human medicine for the past few years, and cases 

 of poisoning have been of rare occurrence and none fatal, although as 

 much as two or three ounces have been applied on ulcerated surfaces in 

 a week's time. Occasionally the drug produces an erythema or derma- 

 titis owing to peculiar susceptibility of the patient. On the other hand, 

 orthoform has been used successfully in the treatment of dermatitis fol- 

 lowing poisoning in the human. 



Uses. — Orthoform is valuable chiefly for its power in relieving pain 

 when applied to raw surfaces. It is an excellent application for burns. 

 In superficial bums, orthoform may be combined to advantage with ich- 

 thyol, of each 10 per cent., in lanolin. In burns of the second and third 

 degree, the use of orthoform and boric acid, equal parts, forms an excel- 

 lent remedy. Orthoform is serviceable in relieving pain and irritation of 

 ulcers, hemorrhoids and fissures of the rectum. In human practice it is 



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