a. Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, an acid
formerly obtained by fusing salicin with potassium hydroxide, and now
made in large quantities from phenol (carbolic acid) by the action of
carbon dioxide on heated sodium phenolate. It is a white crystalline
substance. It is used as an antiseptic, and in its salts in the
treatment of rheumatism. Called also hydroxybenzoic acid.
