28 
Naphthol,  its  Uses  and  Value. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1884. 
to  which  naphthol  was  not  added  had  a  strong  putrid  odor  at  the  end 
of  eight  days.  The  addition  of  the  naphthol  to  this  putrid  sample 
divested  it  of  all  odor  within  twenty-eight  hours. 
Dr.  Shoemaker's  therapeutic  experiments  extended  through  some 
nine  months  and  sufficed  to  convince  him  of  the  great  value  of  naph- 
thol in  medicine. 
He  found  it  to  fully  sustain  the  claim  that  Kaposi  had  made  for  it 
in  scabies,  psoriasis  and  chromophytosis,  as  well  as  in  some  of  the 
chronic  forms  of  eczema,  in  which  it  not  only  allayed  the  itching 
attendant  thereon,  but  lessened  the  infiltration  as  well.  In  wounds 
and  indolent  ulcers  it  is  a  most  useful  detergent  and  deodorant,  remov- 
ing the  fetor  and  establishing  healthy  action  of  the  parts.  Aqueous 
solutions,  containing  half  grain  to  the  ounce,  were  used  to  great  advan- 
tage as  vaginal  injections,  especically  in  leucorrhcea  and  uterine  car- 
cinoma, as  well  as  in  gonorrheal  affections,  both  in  male  and  female. 
In  diphtheritic  throat  affections  it  made  a  most  useful  gargle,  as  well 
as  to  remove  the  fetor  of  catarrhal  and  other  affections  of  the  buccal 
cavity.  Its  greatest  value,  however,  arose  from  its  disinfectant  action 
on  the  evacutions  of  fever  patients  and  in  rooms  containing  them, 
while  by  its  absence  of  odor  it  did  not  tend  to  produce  inconvenience 
either  to  patient  or  attendants.  Combined  with  powdered  talcum  or 
starch,  or  both,  and  dusted  into  the  shoes  or  stockings  of  those  affected 
with  fetid  exhalations  of  the  feet  it  acts  most  satisfactorily,  and  its 
effects  are  equally  as  good  in  the  same  affection  involving  the  hands, 
axillary  and  inguinal  regions.  Combined  with  other  ointments  in  the 
porportion  of  from  one  to  ten  grains  to  the  ounce,  it  not  alone  preserves 
the  unguent  from  decomposition,  but  excercises  also  an  antiseptic  action 
on  the  parts  and  the  exudation  therefrom.  A  slight  admixture  to  an 
experimental  sample  of  lard  preserved  the  same  in  excellent  condition 
throughout  the  hot  summer  months.  In  chronic  psoriasis,  particularly 
when  there  is  great  infiltration,  a  five  to  fifteen  per  cent,  ointment  was 
frequently  attended  with  good  results.  It  also  proved  very  effective  in 
squamous  and  fissured  eczema,  used  in  combination  with  lard  or  gelatin. 
After  his  long  and  successful  employment  of  naphthol  Dr.  Shoemaker 
was  surprised  to  find  that  serious  untoward  effects  had  been  reported 
from  its  use  by  foreign  authors.  With  a  view  to  further  testing  its 
toxic  properties  he  first  administered  it  to  a  rabbit  internally  in  a  satur- 
ated solution.  But  on  discovering  no  injurious  effect  he  selected 
another  rabbit  which  he  determined  to  poison  with  a  view  to  observing 
