362 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



late circulate in the blood as sodium salicylate and are eliminated in the 

 urine as salicyluric and salicylic acids. This happens in this wise: Some 

 •of the salicylic acid of sodium salicylate combines with glycocoll in the 

 body and forms salicyluric acid. HC7H5O3+C2H5NO2 (glycocoll)= 

 HCjjHgNO^ (salicyluric acid)+H20i; while some of the sodium salt is 

 decomposed by phosphoric acid in an acid urine into salicylic acid. Like 

 quinine, the excretion of salicylic acid begins soon, in one hour, and is all 

 excreted within 48 hours. Large doses given continuously accumulate in 

 the body, and chiefly in the synovial fluid in the various joint cavities 

 which accounts for their action in rheumatism. The quantity of urea 

 and uric acid in the urine is increased very considerably by salicylic acid 

 through protein destruction in the body, and usually the amount of urine 

 itself.- It is made aseptic by the escaping salicylic acid, or in the case of 

 salol, by both carbolic and salicylic acids. Sometimes salicylates irritate 

 the kidneys in large doses and blood and albumin appear in the urine. 

 The urine of animals taking salicylic acid may be rendered green by indi- 

 can and pyrocatechin, formed through the action of pancreatic juice, and 

 takes on a purple color with ferric chloride. Salicylic acid is also elim- 

 inated in the milk, sweat and bile. 



Toxicology. — In man, continued large doses give rise to delirium, 

 vomiting, depression of the circulation, epistaxis, hematuria, and retinal 

 hemorrhages. The herbivora are not easily affected by large doses of 

 salicylic acid or salicylates, but dogs exhibit nausea and vomiting, accel- 

 erated respiration, irregular pulse, loss of muscular strength, staggering 

 gait, stupor, and, if death occurs, it is preceded by slow breathing, dilated 

 pupils, dyspnea, and convulsions due to asphyxia. The minimum fatal 

 dose for a small dog is about one dram of sodium salicylate, subcutane- 

 ously. 



Administration. — Sodium salicylate contains 48 grains of the acid to 

 the dram. Sodium salicylate is used in preference to the acid because it 

 is soluble and unirritating. It is given in solution, or to dogs in pills nr 

 tablets. Salicylic acid may be exhibited in solution by warming it with 

 glycerin (gr.iv-3i) ; or with syrup (1-5), and aqua ammoniac in suffi- 

 cient quantity to dissolve it, thus forming ammonium salicylate. It may 

 also be administered in pill or ball. Salol is given in pill, powder or 

 mixture with water. The larger doses of salicylic acid and salicylates 

 should not be repeated, and are used for their antipyretic action. A 

 maximum daily dose of one ounce of salicylic acid or sodium salicylate, 

 for horses, or one dram of either for large dogs, should rarely be ex- 

 ceeded. 



Uses External. — Salicylic acid is employed in various forms as an 

 antiseptic. Aqueous solutions (1-300) may be applied to wounds. 

 Stronger solutions are prepared with alcohol, borax, sodium bicarbonate, 

 and ammonium acetate solution. Salicylic acid may be applied as a 

 dusting powder with zinc oxide (1-8), or in ointment (1-20 or 30), for 

 its stimulant and antiseptic effect on wounds. It is used in the treatment 

 of burns with cottonseed oil (1-8). Salicylic acid is useful in powder or 

 ointment in acute moist eczema (1-60), and in the following formula: 



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