This section is from the book "Recent Materia Medica: Notes On Their Origin And Therapeutics", by F. Harwood Lescher. Also available from Amazon: Recent materia medica.
"A crystalline substance produced by the action of glacial acetic acid on para-phenetidin, a body obtained from phenol.
Characters. Colourless, tasteless, inodorous, glistening scaly crystals. Melting-point, 2750 F. (135° C). Sparingly soluble in cold water, more freely in boiling water, and in about sixteen parts of rectified spirit." - 1890. Add. to B. P.
A derivative of coal-tar, allied to Acetanilid, introduced as an antipyretic by 0. Hinsberg and Prof. Kast. Whitish crystalline powder, odourless and tasteless. Scarcely soluble in water, soluble in alcohol and acetic acid: in doses of 5 to 15 grains, reduces temperature in fevers.
The French call it Phenedine.
Therapeutics. A safe antipyretic, reducing temperature, with perspiration, but without collapse, soothing pain (as in headache) and giving sleep. Dose 4 to 8 grains, or even 12 grains, suspended in thickened fluids or powders.
Valuable in typhoid fever, and worth a trial in rheumatism, in 4 doses of 15 grains each in one day.
" Excellent in fevers." - Prof. V. Bamberger, Vienna.
"Probably slower in action than Antipyrin and Antifebrin."- Medical News, August, 1887.
Methyl Phenacetin, an allied compound, is an active narcotic, in small doses - Pharm. Journ., 2-8-90.
 
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