URINE. 341 



isomeric with it) produced, 1 and the benzoic acid then converted 

 in the ordinary manner into hippuric acid ? Or does the salicin 

 yield salicylous acid which appears to be isomorphons with, 

 and convertible into oxide of omichmyle ? 2 Or, finally, does 

 the salicin undergo the same changes as when oxidized by 

 fusion with caustic potash, and become converted into salicylic, 

 oxalic, and carbonic acids, and water ? 3 In sixteen experiments 

 made by Lehmann with salicin in doses of 20 or 30 grains, he 

 never detected saliretin, but always salicylous acid, which was 

 taken up by ether with the oxide of omichmyle, and yielded 

 the characteristic violet tint on the addition of nitrate of iron ; 

 in most of the experiments there was also a small quantity of 

 hippuric acid, and of oxalate of lime. Similar experiments 

 have been made by Laveran and Millon. 



After taking phloridzin, Lehmann also found hippuric acid 

 and oxalate of lime in the urine. After taking a scruple of 

 thein at bedtime, no trace of it could be found in the morning 

 urine, but the urea was considerably increased, amounting to 

 58'195 of the solid residue. 4 He did not remark any un- 

 pleasant symptoms, but two of his pupils, after a similar dose 

 (obtained from coffee) experienced great excitement of the 

 nervous and vascular systems generally, and especially of the 

 generative organs. This is perfectly in unison with Mulder' s 5 

 statement, that it produced abortion in pregnant rabbits.] 



Salicylous acid. Hydrated benzoic acid. 



1 Symbolically C 14 H 6 O 4 = HO, C 14 H 5 3 . 



2 It appears from the researches of Scharling that the oxide of omichmyle belongs 

 to a series having a compound radical analogous to that of oil of spiraea, or salicylous 

 acid ; at least he found that chloromichmyle is isomeric with chloride of salicyl or chlo- 

 rosalicylic acid, C 14 H 5 4 , Cl. Oxide of omichmyle does not produce a violet colour 

 with nitrate of iron in the same manner as salicylous and salicylic acids ; moreover, 

 salicylous acid and salicin do not enter the urine as oxide of omichmyle, but as sali- 

 cylous acid, as has been found by Lehmann in eight experiments. Scharling hints 

 at the existence of a widely-diffused radical, which, in the vegetable kingdom, in 

 warm climates, is the starting point of the benzoyl and cinnamyl series ; in cold 

 climates, of the salicyl compounds ; and, in the animal kingdom, presents itself as 

 omichmyle. 



3 These changes may be thus explained symbolically : 



Salicin. Oxygen. Salicylic acid. Oxalic acid. Carbonic acid. Water. 

 C 42 H 29 22 + 290 = 2C 14 H 6 6 + 6C 2 3 + 2CO, + 17HO. 



4 Lehrbuchder Physiolog. Chemie, vol. 1, p. 97. 



5 Natuur en Scheikundig Archief, 1839, p. 458. 



