Cosmolin

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

Pharmacology. — Is manufactured by subjecting crude Petroleum to distillation for the purpose of expelling the light hydro-carbons. The residue is purified without the use of chemicals, and deodorized by animal charcoal.

Cosmoline does not evaporate below 400° ; has no affinity of oxygen, and never becomes rancid. It probably consists essentially of Paraffin and some of the heavy coal oils.

Officinal Preparations. — Triturations; dilutions. (Cerates.)

Analogues. — Urtica urens, Dulcamara, Petroleum, Calendula, Carbolic acid, Rhus.

[Cosmoline is purified and concentrated Petroleum, the substance which remains after all ethers, coloring matter, impurities, etc., have been re. moved. To obtain it, crude Petroleum is distilled and refined, without the use of acids or alkalies, until only a pure, dense, neutral, concentrated, oleaginous body, having an absolute non-affinity for oxygen or moisture, remains.]

[The following results were obtained from provings of the 3d x trituration, and its effects on the workmen engaged in its manufacture. — Dr. Malcom MacFarlan, of Philadelphia, Penn.\

In all cases, speaking generally, the appetite failed. There« was a feeling of uneasiness and distress about the epigastrium; eructations, mouth filled with sour water, and bowels disposed to be loose. Several of the persons had diarrhoea (watery and offensive) on the second or third day; great indifference and weariness; urination was free (profuse) and frequent. (Provers.)

Loss of appetite, with a feeling of disgust at the sight of food, especially fat meats; a distressed feeling about the epigastrium; extreme weariness and prostration, — at times a congestive headache. They are unrefreshed by sleep, feeling tired and stiff on awakening. In some instances they have had a severe diarrhoea, watery and offensive, without pain. They have a constant desire for vegetable acids and fresh fruits. ( Workmen.)

The skin symptoms in all the cases were alike, — great apparent dryness of the skin and itchiness everywhere, with a constant disposition to scratch one's self. In two cases the skin became dry and scurfy, in irregular patches or blotches, which were very itchy. The skin, on being scratched slightly, would raise in welts or blotches.

In regard to the curative effects of it, I may say that I have cut short two cases herpes zoster, of a very violent character. The eruption disappeared in both cases within ten days. ,

At the Clinic of the Hahnemann College, and before the class, Cosmoline has been used with wonderfully curative effect in the different varieties of eczema. As far as I know, it is the most reliable remedy we have in that obstinate disease,— Petroleum, highly potentized, acting in a similar manner.

The local application of Cosmoline removes the stinging, burning, and itching of eczema.

It has proved valuable as a topical application, not only in skin diseases, but for burns, scalds, blisters, cuts, bruises, sprains, and acute inflammation; also for haemorrhoids. (See Therapeutics, Vol. II.)

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

This remedy is used quite extensively by the homoeopathic school as an external application. It is a purified, concentrated petroleum, or the substance which remains after all the ether, coloring matter, impurities, etc., have been removed. It is a white, oleaginous, and odorless substance, having an absolute non-affinity for oxygen, and evaporating only above 400° Fahr.

Dr. McFarlan, of Philadelphia, asserts that the provings of the lower triturations develop symptoms which have some similarity to those of Pulsatilla, Urtica urens, Petroleum, Carbolic acid, and Rhus.

The workmen engaged in its manufacture suffer from the same pathogenetic symptoms. They have also the following skin symptoms:

“ Great apparent dryness of the skin and itchiness everywhere, with a constant disposition to scratch. The skin is often dry and scurfy, in irregular patches or blotches, which itch a good deal. On scratching, the skin raises in welts or blotches.”

I am not aware that it has been used much as an internal remedy, but it has become quite a favorite external application, not only in our own but all schools, and extends largely into domestic practice. It is manufactured on a large scale, and is sold by all druggists in the United States.

Its effects, when applied to the skin in cases of urticaria , eczema, psoriasis , herpes, and in nearly all cutaneous diseases in which the skin is dry and irritable, is certainly very soothing and often curative.

It has been combined with various substances, forming compound cerates. In fact it is largely used as a base for making cerates with Arnica, Calendula, Carbolic acid, Hamamelis, Hydrastis, etc.

I find, however, that while these cerates are sufficiently stable in cool weather, they soften and assume an oily consistence when the mercury goes above 70° Fahr. In order to make the Cosmoline cerates sufficiently stiff to be used in summer, it is necessary to combine it with Cocoa butter, Mutton tallow, or Spermaceti.

My usual formulae for these cerates are on the decimal scale, namely : One drachm of the tincture selected to one ounce of Cosmoline. Or, gr. 60 of crystals of Carbolic acid to one ounce of Cosmoline (lx). This is too strong for all except old, torpid skin diseases. For a sensitive skin, one drachm of this lx to 5j of Cosmoline. This is called Carbolated cosmoline. The names, Arnicated cosmoline, Ilydrastic cosmoline, Calendula cosmoline, may be used to designate these preparations.

Many physicians use the pure Cosmoline for burns, scalds, blisters, cuts, bruises, sprains, and even acute and chronic rheumatic affections,' with alleged benefit.

There can be no objection to its use in our practice. On the contrary a positive benefit may ensue, by preventing the use of those noxious, disagreeable, and often injurious ointments which are sold everywhere. Patients will use something, and if the physician does not recommend anything they will resort to the nostrum most convenient, or one that is most largely advertised.