472 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



A volatile oil distilled from the leaves of Gaultheria 

 procumbeus Liime (nat. ord. Ericaceae), consisting almost 

 entirely of methyl salicylate (CHgC-HgOg), and nearly identi- 

 cal with volatile oil of betula. 



Habitat — North America ; west as far as Minnesota, and 

 south to Georgia. 



Properties, — A colorless or yellow, or occasionally reddish 

 liquid, having a characteristic, strongly aromatic odor, and a 

 sweetish, warm and aromatic taste. Spec. gr. 1.175 to 

 1.185 at 59°F. Solubility same as methyl salicylate. 



Dose.—n, 3ii.-3i. (8.-30.); D., H^ v. -x v. (.3-1.) 



Methyl Salicylate. Methyl Salicylate. CHaC^HsO,. 



(U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Artificial or synthetic oil of wintergreen. 



Derivation. — Prepared by distillation of salicylic acid, or 

 salicylates, with methyl alcohol and sulphuric acid. 



Properties. — A colorless or slightly yellowish liquid, 

 having the characteristic, strongly aromatic odor and the 

 sweetish, warm and aromatic taste of oil of gaultheria, with 

 the essential composition of which it is identical. It is 

 wholly identical with oil of betula (birch). Spec. gr. 1.183- 

 1.185 at 59°F. Soluble in all proportions in alcohol, glacial 

 acetic acid, or carbon disulphide. 



i>o.se.- K, 3 ii.- ! i- 18.-30.) ; D., Tl^v.-xv. (.3-1.) 



ACTION AND USES OF OIL OF GAULTHERIA AND METHYL 

 SALICYLATE. 



Oil of wintergreen contains about 90 per cent, of methyl 

 salicylate. Eleven parts of methyl salicylate are equivalent 

 to nearly ten parts of salicylic acid. The oil and methyl 

 salicylate are free from the impurities of artificial salicylic 

 acid, while methyl salicylate is of more certain composition 

 than the oil. Both behave similarly to salicylic acid thera- 

 peutically, although the oil is more of a local irritant, and 

 they are used for the same purposes as salicylic acid. Either 



