THYMOL 551 



Thymol. Thymol. C„H„0. (U. S. & B. P.) 



A phenol (or stearopten, B.P.) occurring in the volatile 

 oilsof Thymus Vulgaris Linne', Monarda punctata Linne' (nat. 

 ord. Labiatse), and Carum Ajowan (Eoxburgh) Bentham et 

 Hooker (nat. ord. UmbeliiferEe). 



Habitat— Thymus vulgaris, Southern Europe, cultivated. 

 Monarda punctata, United States, west to Colorado and 

 Texas. Carum Ajowan, India, Egypt and Persia. 



Derivation.— Thymol is made from the terpenes of the 

 three volatile oils mentioned above, by fractional distillation, 

 by saponifying the result with caustic soda to remove more 

 terpenes, and by cooling. The resulting soap, or soda-thymol 

 compound, is decomposed with hydrochloric acid, and 

 thymol is crystallized from an alcoholic solution. 



Properties.— liSLTge, colorless, translucent crystals of the 

 hexagonal system, having an aromatic, thyme-like odor, and 

 a pungent, aromatic taste, with a very slight caustic effect 

 upon the lips. Its specific gravity, as a solid, is 1.069, but 

 when li<iuefied by fusion it is lighter than water. It melts at 

 50° to 51° C. (122° to 123.8° F.), remaining liquid at con- 

 siderably lower temperatures. When triturated with about 

 equal quantities of camphor, menthol, or chloral, it liquefies. 

 Soluble in about 1200 parts of water, and in less than 

 its own weight of alcohol, ether or chloroform ; also readily 

 soluble in carbon disulphide, glacial acetic acid, and in fixed 

 or volatile oils. 



Z>o«e.— H., 3ss.-ii. (2.-8.); Sh. (single dose), 3ss.-ii.^s.; 

 D.,gr.i.-xv. (06-1.). 



Action and Uses. — Thymol resembles carbolic acid chemi- 

 cally and physiologically. It is less poisonous and irritaui 

 more costly, and possesses greater antiseptic powers. It i& 

 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 drachm given intravenously to a dog caused 



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