ICTHYOL 659 



of chronically enlarged glands. The use of cod liver oil is 

 contra-indicated in hot weather, and in animals suffering 

 from indigestion or acute diarrhoea. It is often beneficial, 

 however, in chronic diarrhoea. 



Linseed oil, oil cake, and cottonseed meal may often be 

 conveniently and properly substituted for cod liver oil, in 

 the case of the larger patients ; while morrhuol (gr.iii. = 1 

 teaspoonful cod liver oil?) given in pills, or lipanin (oleic 

 acid, 6 ; olive oil, 100) may be exhibited in drachm doses to 

 dogs when cod liver oil does not agree. 



IcTHYOLUM. Icthyol. (Non-official.) 



Synonym. — Ammonium icthyol sulphonate. 



Derivation. — A bituminous quartz occurring in the Tyrol 

 Mountains, containing the fossil remains of fish, is distilled 

 with strong sulphuric acid, and sulphurous acids are removed 

 from the distillate by sodium chloride, while sulphonic acid 

 separates out. The latter is usually saturated with ammonia, 

 forming icthyol ; but similar preparations are made by the 

 combination of sulphonic acid with sodium, lithium and 



zinc. 



Properties. — A thick, dark, reddish-brown liquid, of a 

 tarry consistency, and possessing a peculiar, disagreeable 

 odor, and hot, bituminous taste. It is soluble in water, 

 glycerin, alcohol, benzol, fats and fixed oils. 



Constituents.— Icthyol contains about 10 per cent, of 

 sulphur; also an inseparable volatile oil, to which its dis- 

 agreeable odor is due. 



Action and t/ses.— Icthyol is one of the most widely use- 

 ful drugs recently introduced into medicine. It is particu- 

 larly valuable in the treatment of acute and chronic diseases 

 of the skin and ■ subadjacent tissues, accompanied with 

 inflammation, pain, swelling, and induration ; also in epider- 

 mal proliferation. Icthyol is supposed to readily permeate 

 the skin, and there act to relieve inflammation and pain, and 

 aid resolution. It is one of the most successful rerapdfp« ' 



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