Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/539

* SALICYLATES. 483 SALII. blindness, headache, vomitinj;. and delirium. The chief use of the salicylates is in rheunuilisni, in many acute Asos of which they seem to possess a specific efl'ect. The sodium salt is more ert'ec- tive in acute, the lithivnu salt in chronic rheu- matism. When {;iven in rheumatic fever, sodium salicylate and salicylic acid cause a fall of tem- perature, and marked relief from pain, and it is thought they diminish the likelihood of the car- diac complications so characteristic of this dis- ease. (See RiiEUMATisjr. ) Salicylate of .sodium is nsed with success for causing; the absorption of pleural effusions, in conjunction with purga- tives and diuretics. In quinsy and true tonsil- litis, especially of rheumatic origin, the salicy- lates will often prevent suppuration, shorten tlio attack, and promptly relieve the pain and swell- ing. Mercury salicylate has the properties of a mercurial rather than those of salicylic acid and is employed as a hypodermic injection in urgent cases of syphilis, liismuih saliciilnic is an in- testinal antiseptic much used in Europe. See Salicylic Acid. SALICYLIC ACID, CJi^ ( OH ) COOH. An important compound of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, existing in combination in various plants. It is the chief component of oil of wintcrgreen, which is obtained by distilling the blossoms of the Gaulthcria procumbens : it is likewise com- bined in the volatile oil of betula, obtained by distilling the bark of the sweet birch (Betula lent a). Salicylic acid is employed in the manu- facture of certain dyestuiTs ; and as it has no odor and acts as a powerful antiseptic, it is ex- tensively used for the preservation of various articles of food, such as eggs, milk, fruit, pickled vegetables, etc. It is also added to wine and beer to check fermentation, and thus to prevent the formation of deleterious products. In small qviantities the acid is perfectly harmless. If the food, however, is very poor, it requires a rather large amount of acid to mask its disagreeable qualities and keep it fit for sale. Now, the combined cfTect of spoiled food and a great deal of the acid may be more or less injurious; and therefore the addition of salicylic acid to beer has, in several European countries, been forbid- den by law. The salts of salicylic acid do not possess the antiseptic properties of the acid. The salt most commonly used is the salicylate of sodium, a white powder very soluble in water and having a sweetish, saline taste. The acid, or preferably its sodium salt, is used in medicine for a variety of purposes. It is a specific for many cases of acute rheumatism, producing rapid ces- sation of pain and a lowering of felirile tempera- ture. In many persons, however, the acid itself and its salts are liable to produce peculiar symp- toms known as salieiilism : there is ringing in the ears, headache, irregular pulse, etc. Continued administration of the drug to such persons may cause violent delirium and eventually death. Salicylic acid is manufactured either from oil of wintergreen or from carbolic acid (phenol). Oil of wintergreen is composed mainly of methyl salicylate, the ethereal salt or ester formed by the combination of methyl alcohol with salicylic acid. When the ester is boiled with caustic potash, it decomposes into its constituents, and thus the acid is obtained in the form of its potassium salt. Hydrochloric acid readily takes up the metal of the latter, setting free its salicylic acid, which may then be rendered pure by recrystallization from alcohol. At present, however, salicylic acid is manufactured mostly from phenol. l'hen<d (carbolic acid) combines with caustic soda, yielding sodium phcnate; and when the latter is heated to 120° to I-IO" C. (ioO" to 285° F. ) with carbonic acid gas under pressure, or preferably with liijuid carbonic acid in closed iron vessels, the so<lium salt of salicylic acid is jiroduced. This salt is decomposed with hydrochloric acid, and the salicylic acid set free is purified by recrystallizing from ordinary alco- hol or by distilling with a current of steam. When heated with lime, salicyelic acid loses the elements of carbonic acid and is reconverted into phenol. Pure salicylic acid is a while crys- talline substance, very sohd)le in alcohol, spar- ingly soluble in water, and having a ssveetish- sour taste. Its presence in a given article is usually detected by means of ferric chloride, which iinparts to solutions of the acid an in- tense violet coloration. SALIDA, sa-li'da or -le'dfl. A city in Chaffee County, Colo., 9" miles west by north of Pueblo; on the Denver and Kio Oranile Railroad (Jlap: Colorado. E 2). It is situated in n section noted for its mineral wealth and for its rich agricultural lands. There are a smelting ])!ant and repair and construction shops of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Salida Academj', a jnddic library, and the Denver and Rio Grande Hospital are features of the city. The water- works are owned by the municipality. Popula- tion, in ISnn, 2586;' in 1900, .3722. SALIENT (Fr. snlUent, from Lat. saliens, pres. part, of S(i?/rc, to leap) . In heraldry (q.v.), a lion represented in the act of springing on its prey. SALIENT. See Fortification. SALIEKI, sa-lya're, Antonio (17501825). An Italian composer, born in Legnano. In 1705 he entered the San Marco singing school, Venice, and shortly afterwards went to 'S'ienna as a pupil of Gassniann. In 1770 he produced his first opera, Le dontie letterate. with great success. He was a very popular composer in his time, but is now almost entirely forgotten. His chief fame was as a composer of dramatic and church music. Of his operas Le^ Dana'ides (1784) and Tarare (1787) are considered the best. He wrote in all 46 operas, 3 oratorios, 8 cantatas, 2 sym- phonies, and many miscellaneous compositions. Among his pupils were Beethoven and Schubert. He died in Vienna. SALIGRAMI, sii'le-gra'me. A river of India. See G-VNDAK. SALII, sa'li-I (Lat., dancers). A Roman priesthood, consecrated to the service of the war- god. They appear to have existed in both the early communities that combined to form the city of Rome, those of the Palatine (Salii Pala- tini) serving Mars, those of the Quirinal (f^alii Collini or Af/onensex) originally Quirinus. Later the joint body was regarded as under the pro- tection of Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus. The Salii were performers of the war-dances in honor of the god. Each body numliered 12. and each had its own head and ritual. They wore the old military garb, a blood-red tunic, breastplate, and pointed helmet, and carried a sword, and espe- cially the sacred shields and spears, kept always