68 Botanic Drugs 



proper food preservatives. The terebinthinates 

 are to be preferred. See "Abies." But inhalations 

 of the tincture, or its atomization, may be em- 

 ployed with advantage in laryngeal affections. 



In my view, the before-mentioned internal uses 

 of benzoic acid and its salts may be discontinued 

 with little loss to therapy. The substitution of 

 CINNAMIC ACID has not helped the situation, since 

 it is rarely effective. Natural salicylic acid is 

 vastly more effective in most of the indications for 

 an internal antipyretic antiseptic. 



Genito-urinary uses of the benzoates are upon a 

 better scientific and clinical basis, the ammonium 

 and sodium salts being used. Wherever it is neces- 

 sary to increase the acidity of the urine, the ben- 

 zoates are useful, and this is a wide field. Since 

 benzoic acid is eliminated as hippuric acid, except 

 in febrile states, and hippuric acid is an acid natural 

 to the urine and not at all irritating, this use of the 

 benzoates is thoroughly well based. If but small 

 quantities are required to maintain acidity, the 

 free eating of stewed prunes may suffice, for they 

 contain benzoic acid in appreciable amount. Ex- 

 cept in aggravated cases, comparatively small doses 

 (5 grains) of the benzoates serve in the genito- 

 urinary indications. Hexamethylenamine is a better 

 urinary antiseptic, provided that the urine is not 

 excreted in an alkaline state; when it is alkaline, 

 make it acid with the benzoates, and then hexa- 

 methylenamine will be applicable. 



I use the benzoates rarely except in the genito- 

 urinary indications, believing the tincture and the 

 compound tincture to be more available for the 

 other uses that are really justified. 



