Veronal

VERONAL, Veronalum, or diethylmalonylurea, or diethylbarbituric acid, C₈H₁₂N₂O₃, synthesized by E. Fischer. It consists of crystalline leaflets without odor, with a slightly bitter taste; melting point 190-191°; it dissolves in 170 parts of water at 15-20° and in 17 parts of boiling water, is easily soluble in weak solutions of alkalis (forming salts), in alcohol, ether, and with more difficulty in chloroform.

The purity of the preparation (according to the Pharmacopoeia VII) is determined by its physical and organoleptic qualities, solubility, and the absence of coloration when dissolving 0.1 g of Veronal in 1 cubic cm of concentrated sulfuric acid or in 1 cubic cm of 25% nitric acid. Veronal is used as a fast-acting and reliable hypnotic, which provides prolonged sleep without noticeably altering heart activity or circulation, even with prolonged use; therefore, Veronal is also recommended for heart diseases with decompensation. The hypnotic dose is 0.25-1.0 g. With long-term use of Veronal, ascending paralysis, a state of depression or agitation, severe constipation with high abdominal sensitivity, as well as hematoporphyrinuria with inflammation of the kidneys and uremia are observed. At toxic doses, 0.5-0.7 g per kg of body weight, a severe drop in blood pressure is observed due to paralysis of the heart and the vasomotor center.

Symptoms of poisoning: headache, stupor, feeling of fear, unsteady gait, rash, congestion of blood to the skin (bruising), hematoporphyrinuria. Assistance in case of poisoning: gastric lavage with warm water, then emetics, laxatives (castor oil, magnesium sulfate), a solution of sodium bicarbonate, and an enema of lukewarm water (200-400 cubic cm). In case of weakness of the heart—strong coffee, 0.2 g of caffeine subcutaneously, 1 mg of strychnine nitrate, 1 mg of strophanthin. In case of threatening respiratory paralysis, 3-5 mg of lobeline hydrochloride is injected, and artificial respiration and heat are applied.

N. Kornilov. For the detection of Veronal in forensic cases, in addition to the viscera, urine is also examined. Veronal is extracted from acidified solutions with ether or chloroform; the extract is evaporated, and the residue is recrystallized from water after heating with animal charcoal and filtering. The absence of characteristic chemical reactions necessitates relying only on the physical properties of Veronal—its difficult solubility in cold water (1:145), easy solubility in the presence of alkalis, sublimation upon heating the dry residue (needles), and a melting point of 191°. It is understood that in this way, Veronal can be detected only in the presence of noticeable quantities that allow for its purification by recrystallization.