^'^'m^:^^^'''^'}     Action  of  Santonin  and  its  Derivatives.  259 
out  precitation  taking  place.  Commercial  anthrarobin  contains  a  trace 
of  zinc,  but  thd  ash  amounts  only  to  one-third  per  cent. 
Dr.  G.  Behrend  has  used  anthrarobin  for  herpes  tonsurans,  pityria- 
sis versicolor,  eczema  marginatum  and  psoriasis,  effecting  cures  in  14 
cases.  He  regards  it  as  somewhat  less  efficacious  than  chrysarobin, 
but  more  so  than  pyrogallol ;  it  colors  the  skin  slightly  brown,  but 
does  not  produce  inflammation,  and  may  be  employed  in  the  face ;  the 
stains  on  clothes  are  removed  with  the  aid  of  soap  and  soda. 
The  new  remedy  has  also  been  used  by  Professor  Dr.  Kdbner  with 
favorable  results  in  psoriasis,  pityriasis  and  papulous  syphilis. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL  ACTION  OF  SANTONIN  AND  ITS 
DERIVATIVES.! 
By  F.  Coppola. 
One  per  cent,  solutions  of  santonin,  of  photosantonin,  and  of  iso- 
photosantonin  in  olive  oil,  at  38°,  do  not  kill  the  ascarides  lumbri- 
coidi  of  the  pig.  Whilst,  however,  the  two  first-named  substances 
increase  the  movements  of  the  animal  and  cause  convulsions,  with 
isophotosantonin  the  reverse  is  the  case.  The  other  santonin- deriva- 
tives, examined  resemble  the  two  first  in  their  action  on  the  worms. 
It  was  also  found  that  doses  of  1*25  grams  of  santonin  daily  admin- 
istered to  the  pig  did  not  kill  the  worms.  The  action  of  santonin  on 
worms  resembles  its  action  on  vertebrate  animals.  In  order  to  lessen 
the  toxic  effects  of  the  drug  on  the  animal  to  which  it  is  given  it  is 
advisable  to  use  santoninoxime  (Cannizzaro,  Rend.  R.  Ace.  Lincei, 
1885,  703),  which  is  insoluble  in  water,  easily  soluble  in  oils  and  fats, 
but  not  in  organic  acids,  nor  is  it  acted  on  by  the  gastric  juice.  The 
increased  activity  of  the  worms  leads  to  increased  peristaltic  action  of 
the  intestine,  which  thus  voids  them.  In  the  urine,  santoninoxime 
passes  out  slowly  as  santonin ;  it  is  less  poisonous  than  santonin,  but 
is  equally  efficacious  in  its  action  on  the  parasites. 
Experiments  were  also  performed  in  order  to  see  whether  the  photo- 
santonin-derivatives  differed  in  their  action  from  that  of  santonin,  and 
also  to  discover  if  any  relation  existed  between  physiological  action 
and  the  power  of  solutions  of  these  compounds  to  rotate  the  plane  of 
iC/im.  Centr.,  1887,  1206, 1208—1209, 1301—1302  ;  from  Rend.  R.  Acc.  Lincei  [4], 
iii,  513—521,  573—578.     Eeprinted  from  Jour.  Cliem.  Sac,  1888,  p.  310. 
