This section is from the book "A Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology", by David M. R. Culbreth. Also available from Amazon: Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology.
(Synthetic Remedies.)
It should be borne in mind, as incidentally referred to on page 811, that the possibilities which the constructive processes of organic chemistry open to us are almost beyond limit. Not a few of those products which we have solely heretofore, and do mostly even now, depend upon crude vegetable drugs for their origin, are at the present time being built up synthetically to such perfection as often to challenge recognition of distinctive sources. Of these, the Pharmacopoeia would recognize more than it does were it not for partial secrecy in working formula and manufacture. Quite a number are employed so universally that the present day text-book excluding them might be considered more or less incomplete. In order that the chemical relationship may be better understood they have been treated, so far as practicable, in the same ordered sequence as adopted in Part IV. Before taking them up individually, it may be well to show, by graphic formulas, the facility with which the construction and substitution of one atom or a group of atoms for others may be effected - a process which invariably results in giving each time a different substance. In order to do this, and to carry along direct relationship, some of the compounds previously treated will have to be introduced at the sacrifice of repetition, but this may be considered not in the least a disadvantage to the student.
The majority of these synthetics which contain sulphur are hypnotics or sleep-producers, while those containing nitrogen are antipyretics or anodynes.
Methane=CH4
Ethane=C2H6
Ethyl Alcohol=C2H5OH
Aldehyde=C2H4O
Acetic Acid=C2H4O2
Ethylamine=C2H5NH2
Formaldehyde=CH2O
Formamide=CHO.NH2
Mercaptan=C2H6SH
Sulphonal=C7 H16S2O4
Trional=C8H18O4S2
Urethane=C3H7NO2
Thiophene-di-iodide=C4H2I2S
Benzene (Benzol)=C6H6
Aniline=C6H5NH2
Phenol (Carbolic Acid)= C6H5OH
Phenacetin=C10H13NO2
Acetanilid=C8H9NO
Exalgine=C9H11NO
Saccharin=C7H5NO3S
Antipyrine=C11H12N2O
Pyridine=C5H5N
Chinoline=C9H7N
Anisic Acid=C8H8O8
Hydrcarbons.
Benzene C6H6
Nitro-benzene=C6H5NO2
Toluene, Methyl-benzene== C6H5.CH3
Xylene, Dimethyl-benzene= C6H4(CH3)2
Cymene, Methyl-propyl-benzene=C6H4.CH3.C3H7
Alcohols.
Phenol or Carbolic Acid= C6H5OH
Resorcinol =C6H4(OH)2
Pyrogallol-C6H3(OH)3
Cresol=C6H4.CH3.OH
Thymol=C6H3CH3.C3H7OH
Acids.
Benzoic Acid=C8H5.CO2H
Phtalic Acid=C8H4(CO2H)2
Gallic Acid=C6H2CO2H.(OH)2
Salicylic Acid=C6H4.CO2H.OH
Benzaldehyde, Oil of Bitter Almond-C6H5.COH
 
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