Epicarin
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Epicarin is an antiseptic and antiparasitic compound formerly used in dermatology as a substitute for beta-naphthol. It is a sparingly water-soluble powder that darkens upon storage but dissolves in alcohol and ether. The drug is now obsolete and no longer produced.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
EPICARIN, β-hydroxynaphthyl-ortho-oxymethyl-toluic acid, C16H14O4, is a powder sparingly soluble in water, darkening upon storage, soluble in alcohol and ether, with a melting point of 199°. Oily solutions can be prepared by adding ether, which is subsequently removed. It was used as a substitute for β-naphthol in skin diseases and as an antiparasitic agent. It is no longer manufactured.
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Cite this page
“Epicarin.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/epicarin/