16 
Salacetolum is a salicylic acid ester of acetol which is an alcohol 
(CH 3 COCH 2 OH) derived from acetone; proposed as an antirheumatic. 
Acetoacetic acid, also called diacetic acid (CH 3 COCH 2 COOII), 
which may be looked upon as acetone in which a hydrogen atom has 
been replaced by the acid group (COOH). is found in the urine in 
many cases of diabetes mellitits. It is thought that one source of ace- 
tone found in diabetic urine is the decomposition of diacetic acid. 
ACETPHENETIDINUM. 
Acetplienetidin. 
{Phenacetin . ) 
U6±± ^NH(COCH 3 ) 
This substance is generally known by the trade name phenacetin; 
official in the British. German, and Swiss Pharmacopoeias as Phenacet- 
inum: also called para-acetphenetidin. 
Chemistry. — The derivation of acetphenetidin is shown by the fol- 
lowing formulas: 
C 6 H 
0H h. C H < 0H (1 > -OH ; 0, ' lr 
Phenol Para-amidophenol Para-phenetidin (Pa- 
ra-amido-phenetol) 
C H <®C,H 5 
(COCH,) 
Acet-paraphenetidin {phe- 
nacetin) 
H 
It may be regarded as acetanilide (C 6 H 4 <.^jj ^ which one 
hydrogen atom is replaced by the ethoxy group (OC 2 H 5 ). 
Character. — “White, glistening, crystalline scales, or fine crystalline 
powder, odorless, and tasteless." 
Solubility.— Slightly soluble in water (1:925), much more so in boil- 
ing water (1:70), and still more in alcohol (1:12). 
Purity. — Occasionally adulterated with acetanilide, which may be 
recognized by the following Pharmacopceial test: 
“If 0.1 Gm. of Acetphenetidin be boiled with 10 Cc. of water it 
should yield a solution which, when cooled and filtered, should not 
become turbid upon the addition of bromine T. S. [1 per cent solution] 
in slight excess (absence of acetanilide).' 5 
For other tests, see the Pharmacopoeia, and Kebler, Lyman F. : 
Adulterated drugs and chemicals, U. S. Dept. Agric. , Bur. Chemistry, 
Bull. No. 80, 1904. 
Incompatibility. — Incompatible with phenol, chloral hydrate, iodine, 
salicylic acid, and oxidizing agents. 
Dose. — “Average dose: 0.500 Gm. =500 milligrammes (7£ grains). 55 
(U. S. P.) 
Caution. — The German Pharmacopoeia states that not more than 
3 Gm. (45 grains) should be given in the course of a day. Special 
caution should be observed when acetphenetidin is prescribed in com- 
bination with other drugs of similar physiological action; thus, ace- 
tanilide and acetphenetidin should not be combined in full dose of each. 
