364 VEGETABLE DRUGS 



and antiseptic in the urinary tract (carbolic acid from decomposition), 

 and is useful in cystitis and urethritis, to alleviate pain, to prevent fre- 

 quent micturition, and to render the urine aseptic. It may be combined 

 for this purpose with hexamethylenamine. Salicin acts more slowly than 

 salicylic acid or sodium salicylate, and is not in general use. Salicylates 

 are used in indigestion with slight icterus in acting as cholagogues. 



AsPiniN. AcETYLSAI-ICYLIOUM. ACETYISALICYLIC AciD. CiiHgOi. 



(Acidum Acetylsalicylicum, B. P.) 



Aspirin is made by heating fifty parts of salicylic acid with seventy-five parts 

 of acetic anhydride at a temperature of 302° F., and by purification and crystal- 

 lization. It occurs in small colorless, crystalline needles, odorless and having an 

 acidulous taste. It is soluble in 100 parts of water and freely soluble in alcohol 

 and ether. 



With alkalies it is decomposed into salicylic acid and salicylates with the 

 liberation of acetic acid. It passes through the stomach unchanged and is slowly 

 dissolved in the alkaline juices of the intestines, with less systemic symptoms 

 (tinnitus in man) than follows the use of salicylic acid. It is merely a substitute 

 for the latter and is supposed to be less irritating to the stomach but this is not 

 always the case. Fashion has at present endowed it with much wider scope than 

 Is given salicylates, and profession and public use it largely, to the exclusion of 

 the former favorites (quinine and phenacetin), for colds, sore thrnat, influenza, 

 headaches, and neuraleic pain. It is often combined with other antipvretics and 

 analgesics, as acetphenetidin, but is too exoensive for large animals. It is incom- 

 patible with alkalies, their carbonates or bicarbonates. 



Dose.—n., 3ii-iv, (8-15); D., gr.v-xx, (0.3-1.3). Given in capsules or tablets 

 to dogs; with syrup to horses. 



Oleum Gaultheri^. Oil of Gaultheria. 



Svnonvm. — Oil of checkerberrv, oil of wintergreen, oil of boxberry, E. ; essence 

 de gaulth^rie, Fr.; wintergriinol, G. 



A volatile oil distilled from the leaves of Gaultheria procumbens Linnfi (Fam. 

 Ericaceas), consisting almost entirely of methyl salicvlate (CHAHjOj), and 

 identical with volatile oil of betula or sweet birch and oil of teaberry. 



Habitat. — North America; west as far as Minnesota, and south to Georgia. 



Properties. — A colorless or yellow, or occasionally reddish liquid, having a 

 characteristic, strongly aromatic odor, and a sweetish, warm and aromatic taste. 

 Spec. gr. 1.172 to 1.182 at 77° F. Solubility same as methyl salicylate. Very 

 expensive. 



Dose.— H., 3ii-gi, (8-80); D., Tn,v-xv, (.3-1). 



Methyl Salicylate. CUfi,Hr,0,. (U. S. P.) 



Derivation. — Prepared by distillation of salicylic acid, or salicylates, with 

 methyl alcohol and sulphuric acid (artificial or synthetic oil of wintergreen), or 

 Is obtained by distillation from Gaultheria procumbens (natural oil of winter- 

 green), or from Betula lenta (oil of birch). 



Properties. — A colorless, yellowish or reddish liquid, having the characteristic 

 odor and taste of gaultheria, with the essential composition of which it is iden- 

 tical. It is wholly Identical with oil of betula (birch). Spec. gr. 1.180-1.185; 

 when from sweet birch or gaultheria, 1.172 to 1.182. Sparingly soluble in water. 

 Soluble in all proportions in alcohol, glacial acetic acid, or carbon disulphide. 



Dose.~H., 3ii-Si, (8-30); D., in,v-xv, (.3-1). 



Action and Uses of Oil of Gaultheria, Oil of Betula and Methyl 



Salicylate. 



Oil of wintergreen contains about 90 per cent, of methyl salicylate. 

 Eleven parts of methyl salicylate (98 per cent. CH3C7H5O3) are equiva- 

 lent to nearly ten parts of salicylic acid. The oil and methyl salicylate 



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