186    Acetophenone,  or  Hyp  none,  a  new  Hypnotic  Agent.  {Amiprif  imxm" 
density  of  acetophenone  and  that  of  water  is  so  slight  that  it  remains 
in  suspension  in  that  liquid  in  the  form  of  globules  for  some  time 
before  reaching  the  bottom  of  the  vessel.  It  is  neutral  in  reaction  to 
litmus  paper. 
Acetophenone  is  very  soluble  in  alcohol,  ether,  chloroform  and 
benzine.  I  have  ascertained  also  its  great  solubility  in  oils  and  par- 
ticularly in  oil  of  sweet  almonds,  which  has  suggested  to  me  the  idea 
of  enclosing  it  in  capsules  after  dissolving  it  in  that  menstruum. 
With  a  compte-gouttes  titrated  according  to  the  indications  of  Le- 
baigue  acetophenone  gives  thirty-nine  or  forty  drops  to  the  cubic 
centimeter,  which  is  nearly  double  the  number  of  drops  obtained  with 
a  cubic  centimeter  of  water ;  each  drop  therefore  weighs  about  2  J-  centi- 
grams. 
The  liquid  produces  upon  paper  a  rather  persistent  oily  spot. 
Brought  into  contact  in  the  cold  with  sulphuric  acid,  hydrochloric 
acid  or  perchloride  of  iron,  it  gives  rise  to  no  reaction  or  characteristic 
coloration.  With  nitric  acid  there  is  a  production  of  a  yellowish 
color.  It  dissolves  bromine  and  iodine  in  large  proportions  with  con- 
siderable development  of  heat,  especially  in  the  case  of  bromine. 
Dr.  Dujardin-Beaumetz  was  the  first  to  demonstrate  the  hypnotic 
properties  of  acetophenone,  which  had  escaped  the  observation  of 
Popoff,  who  after  Friedel  was  occupied  with  the  study  of  this  com- 
pound. The  dose  in  which  he  has  administered  it  to  his  patients  has 
varied  from  1  to  16  drops,  and  this  dose  always  induces,  according  to 
him,  four  to  six  hours  of  refreshing  sleep.2  The  quantity  should  be 
administered  in  a  single  dose  to  obtain  a  well-marked  hypnotic  effect, 
and  it  should  be  proportioned  to  the  age  and  temperament  of  the 
patient.  When  injected  subcutaneously,  in  the  pure  state,  into  guinea- 
pigs,  in  a  dose  of  50  centigrams  to  1  gram,  it  brought  on  a  kind  of 
comatose  somnolence,  followed  by  the  death  of  the  animal  five  to  six 
hours  after  injection. 
Dr.  Constantin  Paul  and  Dr.  Huchard  have  also  experimented 
with  this  medicament  in  their  hospital  practice,  and  they  have  arrived 
at  conclusions  very  similar  to  those  of  Dr.  Dujardin-Beaumetz 
In  the  first  experiment  Dr.  Dujardin-Beaumetz  administered  the 
acetophenone  diluted  with  olcohol,  ether,  or  glycerin,  and  enclosed  in 
capsules. 
2  It  may  be  well  to  remark  here  that  hypnone  does  not  act  when  there  is 
pain ;  it  only  procures  sleep  for  persons  free  from  suffering. — Ed.  Archives. 
