Creosote

CREOSOTE (Ph VII), creosote oil, Kre-osotum, Creosotum (from Greek kreas - meat and sozo - I preserve). This name generally refers to mixtures of phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons isolated from distillates of tar. It was first applied to a substance isolated from beech tar by Reichenbach (1832). Later (1863), when carbolic acid was obtained from coal tar, it was assumed to be the same substance as Reichenbach's creosote, until Laurent and Runge showed their differences. The following types are distinguished: 1) Wood creosote from pine, juniper, birch, or beech tar (true creosote); 2) Coal tar creosote (an unfortunate name) from heavy coal oil (Creosote Oil) - a mixture of carbolic acid, cresols, and xylenols with aromatic hydrocarbons; 3) Creosote from brown coal (lignite) tar (Braunkohlenteerkreosot) - a mixture of cresols and xylenols with aliphatic hydrocarbons. Medical beech creosote (Kreosotum e pice Fagi). Chemical composition: a mixture of phenols and incomplete methyl esters of diatomic phenols, particularly guaiacol (see) and creosol (methylguaiacol) (together 50-60%); with variable impurities a) homologs of guaiacol: methylcreosol, ethylguaiacol (homocresol), sometimes propylguaiacol; b) homologs of phenol: xylenols, florol; c) esters of triatomic phenols.--In creosote obtained from other types of tar (e.g., English creosote from various Coniferae), there are also para-cresol, phenol, xylenols, and in small amounts guaiacol and creosol.--Creosote is obtained by fractional distillation of beech tar (containing about 5% creosote), with the 200-220° fraction purified by repeated treatment with alkali and precipitation with acid; the settled liquid is then distilled. The 200-220° fraction represents pure medical creosote.--PROPERTIES: yellowish, transparent, oily liquid that darkens in air, with a smoky odor, burning taste, and neutral reaction. Specific gravity 1.075-1.080 (according to FUP not less than 1.08). Soluble in 120 parts of hot water. Difficultly soluble in cold water, insoluble in glycerin. Easily soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, gasoline, fatty oils. Boils and distills between 200-220°; does not freeze even at -20°. The main property of creosote is its antiseptic and antiparasitic action similar to phenol. An admixture of 1/3-1/6% creosote to broth cultures of Bac. anthracis, Bac. pyocyaneus, Micrococcus prodigiosus kills them in several minutes, with bactericidal action higher than that of phenol (Guttman, Marfori). Tubercle bacilli cease growth in cultures at a concentration of 1:4,000 and die at 1:2,000. However, such concentrations are not reached in human blood with internal administration and for purposes of "internal disinfection", particularly in pulmonary tuberculosis (Cornet).--On the skin, oily solutions (1-5%) act as an anesthetic like phenol, concentrated solutions irritate and cauterize. Propylguaiacol, an impurity that should not be allowed in medical grades of creosote, is particularly irritating. Creosote is easily and quickly absorbed by mucous membranes and even intact skin. When absorbed, it acts on the central nervous system, causing in warm-blooded animals disturbance of sensitivity, and in large doses a combined picture of clonic convulsions and paralysis (Marfori). On circulation, moderate doses of creosote have no effect, but large doses, by paralyzing the vasomotor center, lower blood pressure and paralyze the heart muscle. On gastric and liver secretion, creosote has a stimulating effect. With rapid absorption, creosote lowers body temperature like other aromatic compounds. From the body, the components of creosote are excreted through the kidneys in the form of conjugates with sulfuric and glucuronic acids and in traces through the lungs (odor of exhaled air!). Taken internally in small doses, creosote improves appetite and nutrition in humans, causes weight gain, has a beneficial effect on cough and expectoration, and lowers temperature in febrile patients. The beneficial effect in tuberculosis does not depend on specific "etiotropic" action, but is rather a consequence of improved nutrition and absorption processes in the gastrointestinal tract (Sahli). Therefore, the most correct application is in small doses that do not irritate the intestine and do not cause side effects such as nausea, belching, heartburn, and even vomiting. On the other hand, excretion through the lungs may contribute to improvement of catarrhal processes in the lungs. Toxic doses cause severe gastroenteritis, drop in temperature, collapse, pupil constriction, delirium, comatose state, irregular breathing, clonic convulsions. Albuminuria, hemoglobinuria subsequently develop; urine darkens in air. Death occurs from paralysis of the vasomotor center and heart (Marfori). The lethal dose for humans is 5.0 (Kunkel)-10.0. In therapy, creosote is used in drops, solutions, emulsions, capsules or pills. Internally [from 0.05 to 0.5 pro dosi and 1.5 pro die (Ph VII)] in pulmonary tuberculosis (prolonged use, contraindicated in acute forms and in cases with a tendency to hemoptysis). Less frequently - in scrofula, chronic bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, gangrenous bronchitis, gastrointestinal catarrhs. Externally - in ointments and rubs (5-10% or per se for application) in tuberculous pleurisy, neuritis, neuralgia (resolving effect on inflammatory processes occurring in depth, local anesthetic action), rarely - as an antiseptic (Aqua Kreosoti-1:100), in dental caries - as an analgesic (usually leads to death of the tooth). Rarely - for inhalations, in weak solutions - for gastric lavage. In veterinary practice - in tuberculosis and gangrenous processes in the lungs, in infections and abnormal fermentation processes in the gastrointestinal tract, in worms and skin parasites, in ulcers and mange. Preparations. - Creosotal (Kreosotum carbonicum) - mixture of carbonic esters of officinal creosote phenols. Thick liquid, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol and fatty oils. Dose -1.0-3.0; for children-0.2-0.5 several times a day. Eosot (Kreosotum valerianicum) - mixture of valerianic acid esters of creosote. Oil-like liquid, insoluble in water, easily soluble in organic solvents. Does not cauterize. Replaces creosote. Dose-3-6-9 capsules of 0.2 daily; used in influenza.- Kreosolid - magnesium compounds of diatomic creosote phenols. White powder. Replaces creosote. 0.5 four times a day. Similar preparation Kreoso-Magnesia (Kreoso-Magnesol). - Kreosotum - yellowish, transparent, oily liquid with burning taste, smoky odor; dissolves in 120 parts of hot water, very difficultly in cold. Doses: 0.5 pro dosi; 1.5 pro die. Internally - in pills, in solution with mucilage, in soft gelatin capsules. Externally in the form of mouthwashes, on cotton in subantia in a diseased tooth, rubs (0.25-0.75 in 25.0 water), soaps, ointments, in the form of inhalations.-Creosotum benzoicum (Kreosotbenzoat) - yellowish liquid, soluble in alcohol and ether. In diseases of the nose and throat (for spray atomization).- Creosotum camphoricum (Creosocamphre) - equimolecular compound of creosote and camphor. Oil-like, water-insoluble liquid. Internally - in capsules or oil solutions of 0.2 three times a day.-Creosotum cinnamylicum - cinnamic acid ester of creosote. Oil-like brown liquid. Dose-1.0-10.0 daily.--Creosotum oleinicum (Oleo-kreosot) - oily liquid. Daily dose-3.0-10.0 for adults; 0.5-3.0 for children.- Creosotum phosphoricum (Phosot) and Creosotum phosphorosum (Kreosotphosphit) - phosphoric and phosphorous acid esters of creosote. Insoluble in water, decomposed by alkalis; do not irritate. Daily 2.0-6.0.- Creosot-vasogen - see Vasogen.- Kresalbin - protein compound of creosote. Yellow powder. Daily 1.0-2.0.-Pneumin - condensation product of creosote and formaldehyde. Yellow powder used in tuberculosis, influenza, diseases of the respiratory tract; 3 times a day 0.5-1.0. Also used in veterinary practice.-Pneumocol, Sirupus aromaticus sulfo-kreosoto-guajacolicus (similar preparation Kresival - see Cresol).-Tanosal (Kreosal) - tannic acid creosote. Internally three times a day 0.5-1.0 in aqueous solution. Externally - in ointments.

G. Shkavera. In microscopic technique, creosote is used for dehydration and clearing. Being a very energetic solvent of many dyes, it can in many cases damage the staining, but in the case of difficult-to-extract dyes, it can be successfully used as a differentiating fluid. Thus, it is very useful for differentiating sections stained with aqueous solution of Toluidinblau. For this purpose, sections are transferred from the aqueous solution to 95% alcohol, from there to creosote, and then directly to xylene, or in case of cloud formation, are rinsed before placing in xylene in absolute alcohol.