Antipyriu

Antipyriu is one of the most serious rivals to quinine yet artificially produced. It is obtained from coal-tar products by a process of great complexity, its chemical composition being $C\_\{11\}H\_\{12\}N\_2O$. It is a white crystalline powder, tasteless, colourless, and soluble in water. Given in doses of 15 to 30 grains, it reduces the temperature $2^\{\backslash circ\}$ to $3^\{\backslash circ\}$ in about an hour, without the discomfort of profuse perspiration, and is therefore of great value as a febrifuge. It is not an antiperiodic, however, and therefore cannot replace quinine in cases of ague or intermittent fevers.