N. MATERIA MEDICA, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 569 



The process of curdling in milk is retarded for thirty-six 

 hours by the addition of 6.04 per cent, of the acid. It is 

 peculiarly adapted for use as a dentifrice, and as a preventa- 

 tive of the disagreeable odor from perspiration. 



For the still more important purpose of surgical dressing 

 it arrests the smell of putrefaction without producing in- 

 flammation ; and a solution of it promotes the growth of the 

 skin over granulating surfaces. Its use internally has been 

 suggested for those diseases which are contracted from con- 

 tagion. 17 A, June 1, 84. 



COMPARATIVE ANTISEPTIC EFFECTS OF CARBOLIC AND SALI- 

 CYLIC ACIDS. 



In repeating the experiments of Kolbe upon the antisep- 

 tic effects of salicylic acid, Miiller, of Breslau, found that 

 while xoVo P art f carbolic acid would prevent the fermen- 

 tation of a ten per cent, solution of grape-sugar, as well as 

 the same amount of salicylic acid, the latter is more effect- 

 ive when the solution of sugar is more dilute. Again, while 

 0.04 per cent, of salicylic acid retarded the souring of milk 

 for thirty-six hours, the same percentage of carbolic acid 

 was absolutely without effect. Still the action of salicylic 

 acid depends somewhat upon the temperature, as Kolbe ad- 

 mits; and his experiments were conducted with milk at 64, 

 instead of full summer-heat. With urine, however, salicylic 

 acid proved far less effective in restraining putrefaction than 

 carbolic acid; but, on the other hand, while 0.2 per cent, of 

 the former entirely prevented the decomposition of amyg- 

 cialine after the addition of emulsine, ten per cent, of carbolic 

 acid was required to produce the same effect. A still great- 

 er difference was found in their restraining action upon pty- 

 aline, liver-ferment, and pepsin. The decided effect upon 

 the action of the latter does not harmonize with its effect 

 within the organism, as Kolbe took from fifteen to twenty- 

 two grains per day, for several days, without experiencing 

 any injurious effects, and Miiller repeatedly took from four 

 to eight grains without its producing disturbance of diges- 

 tion. The rapid excretion of the salicylic acid is suggested 

 by the latter in explanation of this apparent contradiction, 

 as it was detected in the urine two hours after it had been 

 taken, and none could be detected after twelve hours. He 



