Am.  Jour.  Pharm.) 
March,  1886.  J 
Derivatives  of  Santonin. 
139 
In  regard  to  the  constitutional  effects  produced  by  the  drug  upon 
man,  much  the  same  claims  are  put  forward  as  in  the  case  of  coca. 
When  used  in  moderate  amounts,  a  feeling  of  comfort,  contentment, 
and  rest,  with  complete  retention  of  consciousness  and  reason,  is  said 
to  result.  With  large  doses  there  is  a  sensation  of  dreamy  happiness, 
with  an  intense  desire  for  sleep ;  while  in  excess  the  infusion  causes 
nausea,  headache,  paresis  of  the  extremities,  nervous  trembling,  and 
somnolence.  The  general  effect  upon  birds,  rabbits,  and  cats  is 
analogous  to  that  produced  in  man. 
It  is  evident  that  the  drug  is  of  considerable  importance,  and,  if 
further  experience  shows  that  it  effects  in  man  the  prolonged  local 
anaesthesia  that  it  induces  in  animals,  it  will  be  of  great  utility  in  very 
many  operations  in  minor  surgery. — Med.  News,  February  13,  1886. 
DERIVATIVES  OF  SANTONIN. 
BY  V.  VlLLAVECCHIA. 
Photosantonic  acid,  C^EL^,  is  best  obtained  by  exposing  a  solu- 
tion of  10  grams  santonin  in  a  liter  of  acetic  acid  (sp.  gr.  1"06)  to  the 
action  of  light  for  about  a  month;  the  product  is  evaporated  to  a 
syrupy  consistence  in  a  vacuum,  the  residue  washed  with  water,  and 
then  treated  with  a  warm  solution  of  sodium  carbonate.  The  undis- 
solved residue  may  be  dissolved  in  alcohol,  from  which  it  crystallizes 
in  prisms,  melting  at  182-183°,  and  of  the  composition  C17H220-, 
namely,  1  mol.  santonin-)- 1  mol.  acetic  acid.  On  adding  hydro- 
chloric acid  to  the  sodium  carbonate  extract,  photosantonic  acid  sep- 
arates, and  is  purified  by  repeated  crystallization  from  alcohol.  Its 
properties  agree  with  those  assigned  to  it  by  Sestini  (1877).  It  loses 
1  mol.  H20  at  100°,  and  melts  at  1)4-155°.  The  composition  of  its 
salts  indicates  that  the  water  lost  at  100°  is  not  water  of  crystalliza- 
tion as  assumed  by  Sestini,  but  that  undried  photosantonic  acid  bears 
the  same  relation  to  the  dried  acid,  as  santonin  does  to  santonic  acid. 
Barium  and  silver  photosantonates,  C15H20O3Ba  and  C13H20O5Ag2,  are 
described. 
Photo  santonin,  C17U2404,  is  best  prepared  by  exposing  a  solution  of 
santonin  (20  grams)  in  alcohol  (1  litre)  to  the  direct  action  of  light 
for  three  months.  The  alcohol. is  distilled  off  in  a  vacuum,  and  the 
thick  residual  oil  treated  with  lukewarm  sodium  carbonate  solution  to 
remove  photosantonic  acid.    On  treating  the  insoluble  portion  with 
