Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1883 — A RIVAL OF QUININE. [ARTICLE]

A RIVAL OF QUININE.

German medical journals discuss a new medical agent lately discovered by Prof. Fischer, of Munich. In the course of a long series of investigations concerning the nature and action of quinine, he found that by means of a series of chemical transformations a substance can be obtained, in the form of a white crystaline powder, from coal tar, which greatly resembles quinine in its action on the human organism. Fischer has given it the name of “kairin.” The chief effect produced by it; as yet observed, is the rapid dimunition of fever heat, and its efficiency in this /espect is described as remarkable. It is believed that it will render the use of ioe in fever cases unnecessary, and that its skillful employment will enable the physician to mod-’ erate the temperature of the patient. Kairin is also reported to have less inconvenience for the stomach than quinine. But observation does not show —as yet, at least—that it possesses that tonic and restorative influence for which quinine is so frequently administered. Perhaps, from a chemical and physiological point of view, the most valuable thing about the new discovery

is that it seexnf to bring ns fearer te finding out the chemical nature of quinine itself and the true character of its agency. The discovery has been patented and a manufactory of kairin established, under the direction of Prof. Laubenheimer, of Giessen. But, as it is said that the cost of producing a kilogramme (about 35* ounces) of the new agent is £ls, it will be some time before its patrons can hope to-see it take the place of quinine in practical pharmacy.