of the University of Pennsylvania. 83 



XIV. 



A NOTE ON THE CUTANEOUS ABSORPTION 

 OF SALICYLIC ACID. 



Ix view of the fact that the internal administra- 

 tion of salicylic acid and its salts is not infrequently 

 capable of producing or increasing gastric irrita- 

 bility, the advantages of inducing its cutaneous ab- 

 sorption are at once apparent. By the application 

 to the uninjured skin of salicylic acid, rubbed up in 

 a thin paste with olive oil, we have been able to 

 demonstrate the presence of the drug in the urine in 

 each of seven cases in which such application was 

 made. In six of these cases, an existing rheumatic 

 attack was relieved by the application. Of these, in 

 one case only did the application give a negative 

 result. 



CASE I. Man, set. 30, of rheumatic habit, who 

 had been suffering for three days from rheumatic 

 pains and stiffness in the right thigh. The pain had 

 grown daily worse, until motion of the limb became 



