Botanic Remedies 75 



dependent upon relief in cases that were compli- 

 cated with pleuritic effusions and not upon any 

 direct influence upon pneumonia itself. 



In interstitial keratitis large doses have been given 

 with excellent response. Quinsy responds fairly 

 well to the salicylates, as well as tonsillar infections. 



Waller has claimed that the salicylates influence 

 thyroid activity; hence its use in Graves 1 disease and 

 thyroiditis is suggested. 



But by far the most important use of the sal- 

 icylates is in rheumatism. This use is proven out 

 thoroughly by clinical experience, though not phar- 

 macologically. Gaglio has advanced a theory to 

 the effect that the action of the salicylates in rheu- 

 matism is due to the rapid excretion into the joints 

 (by the synovial membranes) of the salt, as received 

 from the blood. 



In rheumatism, in the form of acute rheumatic 

 fever, the sodium salicylate must be begun at once 

 and in full dosage, well diluted with water, and even 

 as high as 20 grains every three hours for the first 

 twenty-four hours; then half as much as first given 

 thrice daily for quite a period. It is well to give 

 sodium bicarbonate with the salicylate. 



Many so-called cases of rheumatism are not such; 

 in fact, most cases of chronic arthritis are not, being 

 due to other infections, such as gonorrhea; there- 

 fore the salicylates must be used in so-called "chronic 

 rheumatism" with considerable diagnostic discrim- 

 ination. 



ADMINISTRATION. Doses of salicylic acid range 

 from 2 to 15 grains; of sodium salicylate, from 5 to 

 30 grains. 



METHYL SALICYLATE is prepared from the natural 



