334 MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 



of soda is distinctly a specific (much as quinia is a specific 

 against malaria), reducing the temperature, relieving the pain, 

 removing the swelling and other local symptoms, and shortening 

 the duration of the disease. By thus curtailing the course of 

 rheumatism, this drug may indirectly reduce the liability to 

 cardiac and other complications ; but it is of no great service 

 directly in this respect. It is of no use in chronic rheumatism 

 or in gout ; of doubtful value in rheumatic sciatica. It may 

 be given either in wafers or in solution ; and in this country it is 

 now often combined with bicarbonate of potash in free doses 

 (20 gr.). When the pyrexia declines, the dose of the salicylate 

 must be most gradually reduced, as relapses are extremely 

 common after it has been discontinued. 



Diphtheria and diabetes have sometimes been successfully 

 treated with salicylates. 



Salicin may be used for the same purposes as the 

 salicylates ; its action, if less powerful, being better sustained, 

 and the cardiac and vascular depression less marked. 



4. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Salicylic acid is slowly excreted in the urine, sweat, saliva, 

 bile, and mucous secretions generally, mostly as the salicylate 

 or the free acid, partly as salicyluric acid. 



Its most important action remotely is on the kidneys and 

 urinary passages, where it is a stimulant and disinfectant, at 

 the same time increasing the acidity. It is thus adapted for 

 the treatment of chronic inflammatory affections of the bladder, 

 with foul alkaline urine and phosphatic deposits. Sometimes, 

 however, it so irritates the kidney as to cause albuminuria 

 and even hsematuria ; and it must be used with great caution, 

 for these or other purposes, if renal disease be present. 



LIQUID AMBARACEJE. 



Styrax PrsBparatus PREPARED STORAX. A 

 balsam obtained from the bark of Liquidambar 

 orientals. Purified by means of rectified spirit and 

 straining. 



Characters. A semi-transparent brownish-yellow semi-fluid 

 resin, of the consistence of thick honey, with a strong agreeable 

 fragrance and aromatic bland taste. Heated in a test tube on 

 the vapour bath, it becomes more liquid but gives off no 

 moisture; boiled with solution of bichromate of potash and 

 sulphuric acid it evolves the odour of hydride of benzoyl. 



Composition. Storax consists of a volatile oil, styrol, C 8 H 8 , 



