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Succinic Acid


PREPARATION.--The pure chemical is triturated in the usual way.



(The following is by Dr. Morris Weiner, of Baltimore,

1892:)



About twelve years ago I decided to prove Succinic acid (Acidum

succinicum). Agricola mentions this acid, 1546, as Salt of amber.

Boyle, towards the close of the 17th century, was the first who

pronounced it to be acid, and Stecker de Neuform confirmed this
/>
statement, after repeated investigations, calling it a true acid.

Berzelius published its elemental composition, C{4}H{2}O{3}.



This acid was long ago laid aside as obsolete, and not without good

reason, because since the Puritans in chemistry commenced to rule over

every laboratory of pharmacy, by trying to redistill this crude acid and

changing its yellowish color to snowy whiteness, they drove out every

trace of the oily matter which alone constitutes its medical action.

The whiter this acid becomes the larger doses can be taken without any

action on the human system. Knowing that this oil of amber is driven

out totally by redistillation I was compelled to prepare the crude acid

myself.



The expense is considerable. One pound of amber yields about half an

ounce of crude acid, and the glass retort, after dry distillation, must

be broken to collect the acid.



The fumes of Acidum succinicum crudum are inflammable, producing

asthma, cough, sneezing, weeping, dropping of watery mucus from the

nostrils, pain in chest and headache.



None of our remedies gives a truer picture of hay fever, and since the

oil of amber must be securely inclosed in the amber itself, it was but

natural to conclude that by trituration I may receive all the virtue of

the remedy.



At the same time I remembered that necklaces and earrings of amber are

considered a popular protection agent against neuralgia, colds, and even

hay fever.



Since that time I prescribed in cases of hay fever the third decimal

trituration, one or two grains dissolved in twelve teaspoonfuls of

distilled water, one teaspoonful every two hours, with the best results,

and have cured more than thirty persons, who were formerly obliged to go

to the mountains to get temporary relief. Already after the first week

most of them experienced decided relief.

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