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CREASOTE. 371

acetic acid, which dissolves the creasote, and leaves behind the
impurities floating above the creasote solution. It may also be
tested by dropping it on paper, when, if pure, it will, after being
volatilized by heat, leave no stain. Creasote may be dis-
tinguished from carbolic acid, which it closely resembles in many
respects, in being less caustic, and by not imparting a blue color
to a piece of pine wood dipped first into an alkaline solution of
creasote, and then, after drying, into muriatic acid.
Combined with the tincture of the chloride of iron, an
alcoholic solution of creasote will develop a deep, greenish-blue
color, while carbolic acid with the same tincture produces a light
brown. According to the U. S. Dispensatory, creasote power-
fully coagulates albumen.
Medical Properties and Action.—Creasote is stimulant, seda-
tive, rubefacient, escharotic, styptic and antiseptic. It possesses
the property of immediately coagulating albumen, and to this
property is ascribed many of its effects on the living system. In
large doses it is an acro-narcotic poison ; but in small doses, it is
styptic and astringent, and for the latter property it is more
generally administered than for any other. When creasote
comes in contact with the blood, the latter changes from a bright
red to a reddish-brown color, with small spots of coagulated
albumen and it also becomes thicker. Applied to the tongue, it
causes severe pain, but without redness or tumefaction ; it also
causes a strong taste of smoke, and a copious flow of saliva.
When administered internally in small doses, it causes a sen-
sation of warmth in the stomach, and exercises a decided sedative
action. In large and poisonous doses it produces profound
stupor, flushed countenance, fixed eyes, slow and labored pulse,
irritable stomach, nausea, vertigo, but has no effect, such as dila-
tation or contraction, on the pupils. The treatment in cases of
poisoning by creasote consists in administering albumen, such as
white of eggs, milk or wheat flour; also the administration of
ammonia and other stimulants, mustard, emetics, etc. Death
from creasote is caused by its coagulating the albumen of the
blood, and preventing its circulation through the arterial system.
Therapeutic Uses.— Creasote is administered internally for gas-