New Drugs

Heroin and one of its salts, heroin hydrochloride, has been intro¬ duced as a remedy in the treatment of cough.It is a derivative of morphine (di-acetyl morphine), and shares some of the physical, chemi¬ cal, and therapeutic properties of this drug.Heroin itself is a white, crystalline, odorless powder, slightly bitter in taste and almost insoluble in water, but soluble on the addition of a few drops of an acid.The dose of heroin is one-twenty-fourth to one-twelfth of a grain.Heroin hydrochloride is also a white, crystalline, odorless powder, but differs from heroin itself in being very soluble in water, so that it can be given as readily hypodermically as by mouth.On account of this solubility the hydrochloride is preferred to heroin.The dose of the hy¬ drochloride of heroin is from one-twenty-fourth to one-sixth of a grain.As the drug resembles morphine in many of its actions, the dose to chil¬ dren is disproportionately small, and must be used with the same degree of caution as morphine itself.Accordingly, heroin or its hydrochloride may be given in the form of powders, pills, tablet triturates, or in solu¬ tion; speaking generally, it can be administered in combination with other drugs much like morphine.The most important indication for the use of heroin (or heroin hydrochloride) is found in cough, whether this be due to consumption, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma, though it seems least efficacious in asthmatic coughs, and most so in those due to irritation.In the large majority of cases no unpleasant elfects follow its use.In a small percentage of cases some of the after-effects of morphine appear, though in lesser degree, such as constipation, nausea, drowsiness, itching, and occasionally habituation is observed.This habituation seems to be easily overcome.Stupor, giddiness, and severe headache have also been noted.Heroin has been additionally employed with considerable success as a substitute for morphine in alleviating pain and in producing sleep; it has been used successfully in curing morphine habitues.Heroin does not seem to affect the circu¬ lation unfavorably and stimulates respiration, and in general is the