THYMOL ' 395 



Properties. — Large, colorless, translucent, rhombic prisms, liaving an aromatic, 

 thyme-like odor, and a pungent, aromatic taste, with a very slight caustic effect 

 upon the lips. As a solid it is heavier than water, but when liquefied by fusion 

 it is lighter than water. It melts at 48° to 51° C, remaining liquid at consider- 

 ably lower temperatures. When triturated with about equal quantities of cam- 

 phor, menthol, or chloral, it liquefies. 



Soluble in about 1010 parts of water, and in about 1 part of alcohol, 1.5 

 parts of ether or 0.7 part of chloroform; also readily soluble in carbon disulphide,. 

 glacial acetic acid, and in fixed or volatile oils. 



Doge.—B.., 3ss-ii, (2-8) ; Sh. (single dose), 3ss-iiss, (2-10) ; D., gr.i-xv, (.06-1). 

 Anthelmintic, gr.ii per 2.2 lb. live-weight (0.13 per Kg.). 



Action and Uses. — Thymol resembles carbolic acid chemically and 

 physiologically. It is less poisonous and irritant, more costly, and 

 possesses greater antiseptic powers. It is much less valuable, however, 

 medicinally, on account of its expense, and odor which strongly attracts 

 flies. 



Poisoning is not produced readily, as absorption from the digestive 

 tract is slow; but after considerable doses by the mouth, or when injected 

 into the blood, toxic symptoms occur. One dram given intravenously to 

 a dog caused prostration, coma and respiratory failure. Recovery en- 

 sued after the use of artificial respiration. Often no lesions are discov- 

 erable after death. At other times there is hypermia of the lungs and 

 kidneys caused by elimination of the drug. The urine is colored green- 

 ish or yellowish-brown by transmitted light. 



Thymol is used externally for general antiseptic purposes, for ap- 

 plication to ulcers, and as an injection in cystitis in aqueous saturated 

 solution. It is employed in ointment with vaseline (1-15) to destroy 

 ringworm and to relieve itching in pruritus, eczema, lichen, psoriasis, 

 etc. It may be applied as follows for the same purposes: 



Thymol gr.«v. 



Alcohol Siiss. 



Glycerin 3v. 



Aq. ad Oi. 



M. 



An efficient antiseptic mouth wash consists of borax, gr. 40; thymol, 

 gr. 20; water, § iv. It is indicated in stomatitis. Thymol internally is 

 a powerful anthelmintic and parasiticide. It is employed as an intes- 

 tinal antiseptic; as a remedy for tape and round worm (uncinariasis in 

 dogs), in goitre, and as a urinary antiseptic in cystitis. It is given in 

 diluted alcoholic solutions; better in oil or capsules. As a vermifuge 

 full doses (D., gr.x-xxx) should be preceded and followed by a purge, 

 but not oil which acts as a solvent. Thymol has been regarded as a 

 specific for hookworm of dogs, as it is in fact for man. Starve the 

 patient for 24 hours and give the drug in 2 doses, and follow in 2 hours 

 with 3 compound cathartic pills, or calomel. For a dog with hookworm : 



Thymolis. 



Sodii bicarbonatis aa 5ss. 



M. et divide in capsulas No. vi. 



Sig. Give 3 capsules, and 3 more in 2 hours, and 

 follow in 2 hours by cathartic. 



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