Botanic Remedies 67 



made from the urine of herbivorous animals should 

 not be employed in medicines or pharmacy. The 

 dose is 5 to 10 grains; its salts twice as much. 



BENZOIN and benzoic acid can be grouped to- 

 gether therapeutically (Tr. benzoin, average dose 

 15 minims; compound tincture, twice as much), 

 and no separate description is necessary here. 



These agents are antiseptic, a solution of 1 to 

 1000 of benzoic acid being antiseptic, and 4 to 1000 

 zymotic as regards many bacteria, but not to all. 

 Do not depend upon it as a zymocide. 



Adding antipyretic action to antisepsis, it is a 

 fair substitute for the salicylates, though slower. 

 The sodium salt is used in acute rheumatic fever 

 and in several of the zymotic fevers, even in typhoid 

 and malaria. It is not antipyretic except in septic 

 or zymotic fevers. In my own experience, the doses 

 necessary in rheumatism and other infections must 

 be large to be effective, and, in a sick man, they 

 cause depression with cerebral irritation. 



As an external antiseptic the compound tincture 

 of benzoin is more available than is benzoic acid 

 and its salts. In fact, this tincture, in the treat- 

 ment of chilblains, spongy gums, old ulcers and 

 sinuses, and in tender nipples, should be more gen- 

 erally used. 



As an expectorant, there is no doubt that in the 

 chronic form of bronchitis it gives relief to admin- 

 ister various forms of the benzoates, since they in- 

 fluence the septic qualities of the expectorated 

 matter; but the continued administration is most 

 debilitating, as was proven in the "poison squad" 

 tests undertaken to determine if benzoates were 



