570 GENTIAN 



burns in the same manner as carbolic or boric lint. Being 

 unirritating, salicylic lint is applied directly to abraded 

 surfaces without the intervention of any protective. Iron 

 salicylate is antiseptic and astringent. 



Dithion, or di-thio-salicylate of sodium, a greyish-white 

 powder, freely soluble in water, is antiseptic and anti- 

 pyretic. In foot-and-mouth disease it has been given 

 internally, and applied externally as a dusting-powder, 

 and as a lotion (2J to 5 per cent.) to the sores of the mouth, 

 feet, and udder. 



Methyl salieylate (CH 3 C 7 H 5 3 ), a product of the distilla- 

 tion of salicylic acid with methyl alcohol and sulphuric acid, 

 is a colourless liquid with an odour of honey and a nauseous 

 taste. It forms nine-tenths of oil of wintergreen or Gaul- 

 theriae Oleum, a volatile oil obtained from the leaves of 

 Gaultheria procumbens, an American evergreen. Methyl 

 salicylate is employed externally as a local anodyne for 

 muscular and articular rheumatism ; for which it may 

 also be administered in doses of Jij. to 3J Y - ^ horses and 

 cattle ; and u\iij. to 17\xv. to dogs. Oil of wintergreen is 

 also applied to rheumatic joints, and, diluted with alcohol, 

 it has been used as a dressing for wounds. 



Aspirin (acetyl-salicylic acid), formed by the action of 

 acetic anhydride on salicylic acid, is a crystalline powder, 

 soluble in 100 parts of water, in dilute alkalies, and in alcohol 

 and ether. It passes through the stomach unchanged, and 

 in the bowel is split up, salicylic acid being liberated. It 

 is used as a substitute for sodium salicylate, and is largely 

 prescribed in the treatment of muscular and articular rheu- 

 matism, neuralgia, and pleurisy. Doses, dogs grs. ii. to 

 grs. x. ; horses, 3ij- to 3J V - * n special cases larger doses 

 may be given. 



GENTIAN 



GENTIANS RADIX. The dried rhizome and roots of Gen- 

 tiana lutea (B.P.) Nat. Ord. Gentianacese. 



The Gentiana lutea, or yellow gentian, has a perennial, 

 often forked root, and an annual herbaceous stem, which 

 rises three or four feet, and bears axillary whorls of yellow 



