Thiolum - Thioli - Thiol. - Origin. - This substance is prepared by heating brown-colored paraffin or gas oils with sulphur, and extracting the sulphurated, unsaturated hydrocarbons with alcohol.

Description and Properties. - It occurs as a neutral, solid body, non-hygroscopic and soluble in water, and of a dark-brown color, or in the form of a dark reddish-brown, syrupy liquid, containing about 40 per cent. of thiol.

Dose. - 1/2-1 grain (0.03-0.06 Gm.).

Tumenolum - Tumenoli - Tumenol. - Origin. - It is obtained from purified mineral oils by the direct action of concentrated sulphuric acid, without previous sul-phuration, being a mixture of sulphones and sulphonic acids.

Description and Properties. - A dark-brown or blackish-brown liquid of a syrupy consistence.

Dose. - It is used only externally, in strengths of from 5 to 10 per cent.

Antagonists and Incompatibles. - Ichthyol possesses marked reducing properties, and should not therefore be combined with substances, like potassium permanganate, which part readily with oxygen.

Synergists. - Most members of this group, particularly the tars, carbolic acid, creosote, etc., aid its action.

Physiological Action. - Externally and Locally. - Ichthyol is ischemic, sedative, parasiticide, and possesses antiseptic and probably disinfectant, properties.

When applied to the skin in full strength it produces some irritation. It is readily absorbed, having the power to penetrate the skin, affecting the deeper tissues beneath.

Internally. - Digestive System. - Very large doses produce considerable gastro-intestinal irritation.

Circulatory System. - It has the power in medicinal doses of contracting the caliber of the arteries, and in large doses it increases the migration of the white blood-corpuscles.

The physiological action has not been fully studied, and it is not yet positively known what action it has upon the nervous and respiratory systems and upon temperature.

Therapeutics. - Externally and Locally. - Ichthyol was introduced by Unna as a valuable remedy in certain diseases of the skin. It is particularly useful in erythematous eczema, erysipelas, lupus erythematosus, irritable acne, and certain forms of acne rosacea.

Agnew has employed it with advantage in lymphatic enlargements. It has also been found useful in synovial inflammations, inflammatory conditions of the female genital organs, and in certain diseases of the ear and nose.

Thiol, although inferior, is similar to ichthyol in its therapeutic action. It has been found to be valuable in the treatment of herpes zoster, dermatitis herpetiformis, and erythema •multiforme.

Administration. - Ichthyol, when given internally, should be dispensed in capsules, while thiol may be given in capsules, pills, or wine.

Externally, ichthyol may be employed in solution, dissolved in chloroform or in a mixture of alcohol and ether, and applied with a brush; or in the form of an ointment mixed with soft petrolatum or lanolin in from 1-4 to 8 drams (4-15 Cc. to 32 Gm.). It is used also in the form of a soap in from 5 to 20 per cent. strength.

Thiol is used locally in powder form, or as an ointment of 5 to 10 per cent. of the liquid, or in collodion containing 5 per cent. of the powder, or in solutions of glycerin and aqueous solutions containing from 5 to 50 per cent. of the powder.