342 INORGANIC AGENTS 



Respiration. — The respiratory functions are unaffected by thera- 

 peutic doses of these medicines. In lethal doses respiration is quickened, 



ently show that acetanilid paralyzes the motor nerves, antipyrin the 

 motor nerve endings, while motor depression seems to be of spinal ori- 

 gin in the case of phenacetin. The brain is undoubtedly influenced by 

 these agents, as evidenced by coma and convulsions in poisoning, but 

 exact knowledge is wanting in relation to the action upon the brain. 

 The functions of the cerebral cortex are thought to be depressed by 

 phenacetin especially, and the special senses to be first stimulated and 

 then paralyzed by this drug. 



Temperature. — ^Acetanilid, antipyrine and phenacetin are essentially 

 antipyretics. While they do not invariably lower temperature, even in 

 large doses in normal animals, they do so very materially in animals 

 suffering from fever. They apparently render the heat-regulating cen- 

 tres at the base of the brain less susceptible (narcotic effect) to the ac- 

 tion of toxins and increase their control over heat-loss. They do not ap- 

 parently lessen heat-production since metabolism is not diminished — acet- 

 anilid even increases it. They frequently induce diaphoresis, but it is 

 generally accepted that heat dissipation is increased to a greater extent 

 than would be accounted for by sweating, and that it occurs even when 

 diaphoresis does not take place. 



owing to the greater work thrown upon the respiratory centre by the 

 altered condition of the blood, and this vital centre is ultimately para- 

 lyzed. 



Kidneys. — The drugs under consideration produce slight diuresis in 

 moderate medicinal doses. In poisoning, the urine may become dark- 

 colored by the hematin escaping from the disintegrated red blood cor- ^ 

 puscles. Antipyrine lessens the nitrogenous products of tissue waste in 

 the urine, and also diminishes the amount of that secretion. Acetanilid, 

 on the other hand, increases the excretion of urea. 



Elimination. — Antipyrin is rapidly eliminated unchanged in the 

 urine in some animals ; in others it is oxidized. Acetanilid escapes in 

 part unchanged and in part as different oxidation products in different 

 animals; while phenacetin is chiefly eliminated as such and as glycuro- 

 nate of phenetidin. 



Poisoning. — Toxic doses of these drugs cause, in the lower animals, 

 nervous excitement and convulsions, and sometimes coma, loss of con- 

 sciousness, staggering gait, muscular failure, sweating, rapid, feeble res- 

 piration, weak pulse, cyanosis, occasional vomiting in dogs, fall of tem-_ 

 perature and general paralysis. 



Treatment. — External heat, alcoholic stimulants by the mouth, rec- 

 tum, or under the skin; digitalone, strychnine, and atropine subcuta- 

 neously. 



Administration. — ^Antipyrine is given in solution by the mouth, rec- 

 tum, or under the skin. Acetanilid and phenacetin can be administered 

 in powder, tablet, pill or ball; or in solution in alcoholic liquor. Acet- 

 anilid is to be preferred for horses on account of its being less expen- 

 sive. The average dose of acetanilid is two drams for a horse, and 



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