80 
Resorcin  and  its  A/lies. 
f  Am.  Jour.  Phar 
t       Feb.,  1882. 
decided  sensation  of  giddiness;  this  Avas  followed  by  heaviness  over  the 
eyes^  and  drowsiness  ;  the  dyspnoea  was  relieved,  and,  in  a  quarter  of 
an  hour,  she  was  fast  asleep.  This  was  tried  on  four  different  occa- 
sions, and  always  with  the  same  result.  The  pupils  were  not  affected, 
there  was  no  diplopia,  and  no  tinnitus  aurium.  The  action  on  the 
urine  was  more  marked  with  the  larger  doses.  She  was  now  given  a 
drachm  and  a  half,  Avithout  the  production  of  symptoms  other  than 
those  already  mentioned.  On  increasing  the  dose  to  two  drachms, 
decided  effects  were  produced.  The  patient  complained  that  it  flew  to 
her  head,  and  she  felt  giddy,  and  had  pins  and  needles"  all  over.  In 
a  few  minutes  she  became  insensible,  and  Avas  found  lying  on  her  side 
faintly  moaning,  her  eyes  closed,  and  her  hands  clenched.  She  Avas 
in  a  profuse  perspiration  from  head  to  foot ;  there  was  complete  loss  of 
voluntary  power  and  reflex  action,  the  pulse  at  the  radials  was  weak 
and  thready,  and  the  temperature  in  the  axilla  was  only  94°  Fahr. 
Restoratives  were  applied,  consciousness  was  soon  restored,  and  the 
temperature  gradually  returned  to  the  normal.  It  is  stated  that  the 
resorcin  first  used  in  this  case  was  impure,  being  contaminated  with 
carbolic  acid ;  but  the  specimen  from  Avhich  the  two-drachm  dose  Avas 
taken  had  been  specially  prepared,  and  contained  not  more  than  2  to  3 
per  cent,  of  impurity. 
Resorcin  is  not  absorbed  by  the  healthy  unbroken  skin ;  and,  even 
Avhen  rubbed  in,  it  produces  no  sign  of  irritation.  Hypodermic  injec- 
tions of  a  2  per  cent,  solution  sometimes  give  rise  to  cramps  and  pain- 
ful twitchings,  but  abscesses  are  of  rare  occurrence.  Therapeutically,, 
it  is  recommended  in  a  great  number  of  diseases.  It  is  said  to  be 
invaluable  as  a  surgical  dressing,  incised  and  punctured  Avounds  always 
healing  by  first  intention  Avhen  treated  by  the  1  per  cent,  solution.  In 
the  form  of  spray — J  per  cent. — it  is  claimed  for  it  that  it  possesses  the 
following  advantages  over  carbolic  acid  :  It  is  more  soluble  in  water, 
it  is  almost  destitute  of  smell,  its  toxic  action  is  slight,  and  it  is  less 
irritating.  It  is  recommended  as  a  caustic  for  cancerous  and  syphilitic 
sores  of  the  mucous  membranes,  and  it  is  said  that  it  destroys  the  dis- 
eased tissues  thoroughly  and  painlessly.  Given  in  large  doses,  it  has 
been  used  in  intermittent  fever,  but  the  recorded  cases  are  too  fcAV  in 
number  to  enable  us  to  express  an  opinion  as  to  its  value.  As  an  inha- 
lation, it  is  recommended  in  diphtheria  and  in  diphtheritic  affections  of 
the  throat.  A  1  per  cent,  solution  dropped  into  the  ears  arrests  the 
offensive  discharge  from  which  scrofulous  children  so  frequently  suffer. 
