Urinary excretion of salicyl after the administration of salicylate and salicyl esters

Abstract

Using sodium salicylate as a control, the excretion of methyl salicylate, acetylsalicylic acid and salicylosalicylic acid (diplosal) was compared in each of three human individuals. Small doses of 0.5 gm. to 1 gm. were used. The mean total excretion of sodium salicylate was 80 per cent., which agrees with the results obtained with very large doses (12 gms.) previously reported. On the other hand, the mean total excretion of salicyl after the administration of the salicyl esters was distinctly less, namely, 60 per cent. Special treatment of the urines for detection and estimation of the undecomposed esters gave contradictory results. Unchanged esters appeared to be present to a small extent only in some urines, absent in other urines. Ethereal extractives of the urines after the administration of methyl salicylate possessed a fruity odor, indicating the presence of the unchanged ester. Larger doses of the esters may give more conclusive evidences along this line. Since all urines were collected until excretion of salicyl was completed, the salicyl unaccounted for appears to have been destroyed, and this is confirmative of previous results with large doses of sodium salicylate. The mean duration of excretion of sodium salicylate and the esters was practically the same, namely, about 48 hours; only the methyl salicylate showing a tendency to somewhat more prolonged excretion (55 hours).