Definition. - A condensation product of formaldehyde and ammonia, (CH1)6N4. Chemically it is hexamethylene-tetiamine. Also known as aminoform, ammonio-formaldehyde, cystamine, cystogen, formin, uritone, and urotropin.

Description and Properties. - Colorless, lustrous, odorless crystals, having a sweetish, then somewhat bitter, taste. Its aqueous solution has an alkaline reaction to litmus-paper. Easily soluble in water (1: 1.5), less so in alcohol (1: 10). In solution it is decomposed by dilute sulphuric acid with liberation of formaldehyde; it is precipitated by tannic acid and mercuric chloride.

Dose. - Average dose: 4 grains (0.250 Gm.) = 250 milligrammes, U. S. P.

Allied Compounds

Hexamethylene-tetramine readily forms compounds with a large number of substances; among those suggested for use in medicine the following may be mentioned:

Hexamethylenamine salicylate, urotropin salicylate, or saliformin; a colorless, crystalline powder of nauseous, sweetish, astringent taste.

Hexamethylenamine-ethylbromide, bromalin, or bromoformin; a colorless, crystalline powder of a sweetish, saline taste.

Hexamethylenamine-tannin, tannopin, or tannon; a brown, tasteless powder, nearly insoluble in water and alcohol.

Dioxybenzol-hexamethylenamine, hetralin, contains 60 per cent. of hexamethylenamine.

Chinotropin and chinoformin are quinates of hexamethylenamine. Helmitol is a recently introduced compound of hexamethylenamine with anhydromethylene citric acid. Citarin (sodium anhydromethylene citrate) is another compound from which formaldehyde is split off in the organism.

Therapeutics. - The chief action of hexamethylenamina is to act as a germicide in the urine. It is eliminated in the urine and broken down as formaldehyde. It is particularly valuable in cystitis, in gonorrhea, in typhoid fever, and in all conditions in which it is desired to avoid urinary infection or to lessen its severity.