304 
J. C. MEYER, SR. 
Undoubtedly all of you gentlemen have heard of, and, perhaps, 
have already made use of this new febrifuge ; still I trust a report 
on this theme from another source will be acceptable. 
Hoffmann says: “ In No. 33 des Central-blatters fur klinische 
Medizin, Calm & Hepp drew attention to a new antifebrile, four 
times stronger than antipyrin, thus far always reliable, having no 
unpleasant, much less toxical secondary effects. 
“ Stachiwitz, in the allgemeinen medizinischen Zeitschrift , 
No. 93, 1886, then drew attention to the fact, that 0.25 centi- 
gramms antifebrin is as efficient as 1 gramrn antipyrin, and very 
much cheaper. 
“At the time of these publications the clinical department 
of this institution was receiving a number of horses afflicted with 
influenza, having a high fever. A good percentage of these 
patients were treated with antifebrin with satisfactory results. 
Further experiments, especially with dogs and pigeons, proved 
that the remedy has not, as yet failed, nor caused any unfavor¬ 
able after results. Therefore, I am now prepared to recommend 
acetanilid as one of the best, if not the best antifebrile agent. 
“ This preparation, which is very stable, is not decomposed on 
distillation, nor by means of acid and alkalies at normal tempera¬ 
ture ; it is almost insoluble in cold water, somewhat in hot water, 
and in alcohol, or in any fluids containing alcohol it is readily dis¬ 
solved. It melts at 113° and boils at 293°. 
“ The experiments by Ansorow have shown that antifebrin, 
like thallin, operates on the regulating centres of warmth, and 
excites the vaso-dilatatores, so that the first symptom is a dilata¬ 
tion of the peripheric vessels, and a slight increase of the peri¬ 
pheric temperature ; symptoms which can be reduced without 
fail, by an irritation of the nervus Ischiadicus. 
“ In regard to the decomposition of antifebrin in the system, 
Wendriner states that it is not found in the urine as antifebrin, 
nor as anilin, but considerable phenols are detected, about two to 
three per cent, of the quantity taken. What becomes of the other 
decomposed parts has not as yet been ascertained; probably they 
are emitted from the system as acetate of ammonia. 
“ Upon experimenting with antifebrin on animals, it was sub- 
