Reprint from JVew England MedicalMonthly November, 1894.

PETROLEUM

IN

PULMONARY AFFECTIONS.

E. P. JONES, M. D.

To which is added an Editorial from The Pacific MedicalJournal, November, 1894.

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PETROLEUM IN PULMONARYAFFECTIONS.

WHILE cod liver oil possesses a wide rangeof usefulness, there are many cases to

which it is not adapted. Many of our patientsare found to possess idiosyncrasies which renderthis oil not only very repugnant, but intolerableto the stomach and imperfectly digested in thealimentary tract. It is in these cases in par-ticular as well as in lung diseases in generalthat we have found petroleum to be not onlyacceptable to the patient, but decidedly curativein its effects.

The following are brief histories of cases oftrue phthisis which have received benefit fromAngier’s Petroleum Emulsion with hypophos-phites of lime and soda.

Case i. Mrs. F., set. 47. Catarrhal phthisis,with breaking down of lung tissue in lowerposterior lobe of right lung. Temperature

4ranging from ioo° to 102 c . Cough continuousand exhausting. Anorexia, impaired digestionand tendency to diarrhoea. She had used nearlyall the emulsions of cod liver oil withoutbenefit.Ordered Angier’s Petroleum Emulsion in Portwine three times daily at first, but afterwardordered an extra dose at bedtime. This hasbeen used continuously for one month, and thecondition of the patient at this time is greatlyimproved. The cough is less frequent duringthe day and disturbs her very little during thenight. The temperature has not reached ioi°for a week or more. Although there has beenlittle variation in the physical signs, the patientis much more comfortable in every particular.The appetite has improved and the digestivefunctions are better performed.

Case 11. Mr. M., set. 32. An advanced caseof catarrhal phthisis, with cavity under rightscapula. Hectic. Had distressing cough andvery irritable stomach and bowels. Diarrhoeahad persisted for some weeks and required themost constant use of opiates and astringents.On this account it had been impossible to admin*

5ister any of the preparations of cod liver oil.He was put on Angier’s Petroleum Emulsionand it was found that given in ordinary doses itcaused no discomfort whatever, but that therewas a marked diminution in the number ofdischarges.

Case hi. Mrs. G., set. 24. Incipient phth-isis developing as a sequel of salpingitis. Hadhacking cough for two months, with afternoontemperature of 101° daily, occasional nightsweats, considerable prostration and dyspnoea,with increase of cough on slight exertion. Therewas a localized area of catarrhal affection underthe left scapula, as shown by the diminishedrespiratory sounds and other physical signs.She had occasional attacks of diarrhoea. Shehad received the ordinary treatment of thehypophosphites, creosote and cod liver oil with-out any apparent benefit, but under the use ofAngier’s Petroleum Emulsion given in brandyand water or Tokay wine four times daily, hercough gradually disappeared and there was anuninterrupted improvement in the other symp-toms. She has gained ten pounds in weight.

6

has no physical evidence of disease and all thebodily functions seem to be properly performed.She may be called practically well.

Other cases of phthisis might be cited inwhich the action of this remedy was markedlyapparent. In all, however, one point was estab-lished, namely, its beneficial action upon catar-rhal conditions of the digestive tract,'renderingit more generally acceptable than other emul-sions in advanced cases of tubercular diseases.

Of no less value is this remedy in variousother catarrhal affections of the respiratorytract. The following case in a young childillustrates its prompt and beneficial action uponchronic inflammatory conditions of the mucousmembranes, which are of a non-tuberculouscharacter.

Case iv. Child three years old had chronicbronchitis and emphysema following attack ofwhooping cough. Condition generally bad.Emaciated. Persistent cough, with labored andasthmatic breathing, which interfered consider-ably with sleep. Circulation poor, no appetite.Physical examination showed rude respiration,

7with prolonged expiratory murmur over theentire area of the lungs, with moist rales in thelarger bronchi. In addition to the necessaryhygienic treatment, the child received two-thirdsof a teaspoonful of Angler’s Petroleum Emul-sion in milk and whiskey every three hours.This, after the syrup of iodide of iron, was theonly remedy employed. An improvement wasnoticed first in the cough and afterwards in thegeneral condition of the little patient. Nour-ishment was more readily taken and the childgained perceptibly both in weight and strength.The respiratory movement became less laboredand with the alleviation ofthe cough there cameability to enjoy an almost normal amount ofsleep. At the present time the physical condi-tion of the child is excellent, there remainingonly a slight cough, which is aggravated bysudden changes of temperature, and a slightemphysematous condition of the lungs whichbids fair underproper conditions to improve stillfurther. There is every reason for attributingthe foregoing good results to the persistent useof Angier’s Petroleum Emulsion, which was

8Used daily for three or four months. Manycases of acute and sub-acute bronchitis can berecalled in which the frequent and persistentuse of Angier’s Petroleum Emulsion has addedgreatly to the comfort of the patient and hasmoreover, materially shortened the disease.

To summarize its merits, we may state thatthe advantages of Angier’s Petroleum Emulsionare its palatability, its easy digestion, its promptassimilationand its sedative effect upon mucoussurfaces. It meets certain indications far betterthan any preparation of cod liver oil, and isindicated wherever cod liver oil has been here-tofore prescribed.

PETROLEUM IN MEDICINE.(Editorial in the Pacific MedicalJournal, November, 1894.)

Petroleum (rock-oil or the earth-oil of theGermans) is an amorphous fat-like body of vege-table origin consisting of a mixture of hydro-carbons, chiefly of the marsh-gas series. Itpasses by insensible gradations from the volatileand etherial naphthas on the one hand into thesemi-fluid and semi-solid malthas on the other.The petroleum used for medicinal purposes isrefined by distillation and otherwise purified.Its consistency depends upon the volatilizationof the lighter portions. All thepurified varietiesare more or less colorless or translucent,odorless>and tasteless, and are free frcm acidity or alka-linity and do not undergo decomposition or be-come rancid. Of late years petroleum purifiedby a distinct process has been largely used forinternal administration as it possesses soothingand healing properties, especially grateful tothebronchialand gastro-intestinal mucous mem-

branes. The use of crudepetroleum for medic-inal purposes datesback to the dawn of history.We find that Herodotus wrote of the petroleumsprings of Zacynthus, and the fountains of Hitare frequently mentioned by the Arabian andPersian writers; Pliny and Diescorides des-cribe the oil of Agrigentum under the nameof Sicilian oil* and petroleum springs in theOrient are frequently mentioned in the earlyrecords of China. In America, petroleum wasfirst describedby a Franciscan friar, M. d’Allionin 1629. In 1829, crude American petroleumWas exported and sold in Europe under thename of “American Oil.”

Medicinal Uses ofPetroleum—As early as thebeginning of the present century petroleum hadalready gained a considerable reputation in thetreatment of consumption, but it remained forthe close of the century to see a scientific Petro-leum preparation in the form of an emulsionwhich can justly lay claims to therapeutic value.

A good many years ago, Mr. A. E. Angier,a practical chemist, while experimenting, foundthat petroleum possessed soothing and healing

properties when it came into contact with thegastro-intestinal mucous membrane. A tea-spoonful was administered one hour after eachmeal, but as much of it was found in the stools,it was concluded that its action was more or lessmechanical. Some years later a finely sub-di-vided emulsion was evolved with the effect thatall was absorbed. Administered in two tea-spoonful doses the emulsion is found to possessexpectorant, diaphoretic, antiseptic and slightlylaxative properties. It also acts as a stimulantto the mucous membranes in chronic pulmon-ary affections. It is soothing and antisepticin gastro-intestinal irritation, and acts as a food—a tissue builder—in wasting diseases. Theemulsion—and Angier’s Petroleum Emulsion isreferred to as being a typical and so far theonly satisfactory emulsion in the market—contains, besides petroleum purified by theirpeculiar process, twelve (12) grains of the hypo-phosphites of sodium and calcium to each ounce.It is easily borne by the stomach, it is tastelessand odorless, does not produce eructation norindigestion, and is readily absorbed by the lac-

teals of the small intestines. A teaspoonfulgiven three times daily after feeding to a fullgrown cat for three weeks increased its weight340 grammes. The emulsion was thoroughlyabsorbed as shown by the dejecta. Two tea-spoonfuls given three times daily to a large dogfor fifteen days increased his weight 659 gram-mes, The emulsion was perfectly digested. Aguinea pig was given half a teaspoonful of theemulsion three times daily for twenty days withthe result that it gained 76 grammes. Theusual amount of food being allowed theseanimals during the administration. These ex-periments prove conclusively that Angier’sPetroleum Emulsion is a tissue builder. Inphthisis the emulsion acts most admirably. Itmay be used in combination with

R Guaiacol, 3j.Ext. Firms Canadensis, 3ij.Olei Eucalypti, 3 j.Syrupi Papaveri, | j.Emulsio Petrolei (Angler) cp s. ad 1 vj.

Misce et fiat Emulsio secundum artem.Signa.—Tablespoonful one hourafter meals.

Under this treatment with good hygienicsurroundings, proper food, warm temperatureand the inhalation of creasote liberated by steamatomization into the air of the room which thepatient occupies, it is surprising how manycases of undoubted tuberculosis with bacilli inthe sputum, recover in the course of a fewmonths. The patients soon stop coughing. Theappetite improves and they gain in weight.

In many cases of chronic bronchitis andbronchorrhoea, this Emulsion of Petroleum isalso of undoubted value. The following com-bination has been found to act well in thesecases:

R Terpini, 3 ss.Olei Eucalypti, 3 j.Syrupi Codese,Syrupi Tolutaui, aa 3 j.Emulsio Petrolei (Angier) q. s. ad 3 vj.

Misce et fiat Emulsio secundum artem,Signa.—Tablespoonful one hour after each

meal.The cough and expectoration grow less and

the appetite and strength improve.

14For asthma and spasmodic cough great

benefit has been derived from the emulsion inthe following combination:

H Elixir Chlor. Comp. (McNutt) 3 ss.Extracti Finns Canadensis, gr. xij.Extracti Cannabis Indicse, gr. iij.Emulsio Petrolei (Angier) q. s. ad 3 vj.

Misce et fiat Emulsio secundum artem.Signa.—Tablespoonful one to three hours

during an attack, and after meals subsequentlyfor a month or two.

When prescribed alone the dose of Angier’sPetroleum Emulsion is two teaspoonfuls. Itmay be given plain or in water, milk, wine or

other vehicle.On trial it will be observed that the latter

prescription cuts the attack short and preventsa recurrence by its soothing effect on the bron-chial mucous membrane.

In obstinate diarrhoea or constipation withfermentation the emulsion acts as an antiseptic,preventing the formation of gases; it is also a

gentle laxative, besides being a food whichbuilds up the tissues. In scrofula and marasmus

Angler’s Petroleum Emulsion acts as a foodwhich does not disturb digestion. It is an agree-able vehicle for the administration of iodide ofmanganese and iodide of iron in these cases.

A trial of Angier’s Emulsion will sati.sfyany one that petroleum in a finely subdividedform acts admirably in pulmonary and wastingdiseases, whethergiven alone or in combinationwith other remedies. It is worthy the full con-fidence of the profession.

[Note. —For the information of those phy-sicians, to whom Angier’s Petroleum Emulsionis not familiar, we will state that it is preparedby the Angier Chemical Company, of Boston,Mass. It is put up in six and twelve ounce bot-tles, retailing at socts, and $l.OO. The adultdose is two teaspoonfuls three or four times aday, in water, milk, wine or other vehicle.— Ed.]