120 ANTIPYRETICS 



taste. One' gram dissolves in 460 mils of water and 2.7 mils of 

 alcohol. It is freely soluble in ether. It is also much more soluble 

 in solutions of neutral salts, such as the borates and citrates, than in 

 water. 



Preparations and Doses. 



Single doses Daily doses 



H. 3ii— Sjss; 8.-45. giijss— 100. 



C. 3ii— §ij ; 8.— 60. §vj— 150. 



D. grs. iij— xv; .2—1. 3iij — 2.8 

 Cat. grs. jss — iij ; 0.1 — 0.2. gr. viij — .51 



There are also the alkaline salts of sodium, lithium, strontium 

 and magnesium with an action similar to that of the acid. Sodii 

 Salicyclas — Sodium Salicylate — is most frequently used. The 

 dose of the salts is twice that of the acid. 



The salts of ammonium, quinine, bismuth and physostigmine are 

 also official but in the available dose do not produce a salicylate-lite 

 action. 



Incompatibles. It is incompatible with mineral acids, alkalies 

 and metallic salts. 



External and Local Action. On microorganisms: Solutions 

 of 1 — 500 are antiseptic and will therefore inhibit or check the 

 growth of bacteria, moulds and yeasts. These solutions are not 

 corrosive to protoplasm or poisonous to animals and except in large 

 amounts are safe to use in and upon the body. It is not a popular 

 antiseptic, largely on account of its insolubility, but is largely used 

 in the treatment of skin diseases and for the preservation of food. 

 It belongs to the phenol group of antiseptics but differs from phenol 

 in not having the destructive and penetrating properties of that agent 

 and in retaining its antiseptic properties in alcoholic and fatty prepa- 

 rations. The alkaline salts have some antiseptic action, though less 

 than the acid, and are soluble in water. Their use, however, as anti- 

 septics is mostly confined to the preservation of foods. Salicylic acid 

 is also a parasiticide and antiferment. 



Salicylic acid is irritant to mucous membranes, softens the epi- 

 dermis as in the removal of corns without exciting inflammatory 

 changes beneath and promotes the healthy growth of skin in chronic 

 skin diseases. Solutions of the acid check perspiration through 

 external application. In addition to the above action the oils of 

 wintergreen and birch are counterirritants. 



Digestive Tract. Even small doses tend to delay digestion by 

 inhibiting or diminishing the action of the digestive enzymes. A 

 1 per cent, solution is sufficient to check the action of ptyalin on 

 starch. Pepsin is also somewhat retarded and it is believed that the 

 other secretions are acted upon in a similar manner. Salicylic acid 

 is a distinct irritant to the mucosa of the stomach and frequently 



