Aspirin one hundred years later

The article commemorates the centenary of the protection of the proprietary name of Aspirin. The early medicinal uses of salicylic acid derivatives in herbal remedies are summarised as well as the biosynthesis of these deriva tives. The history of the synthesis of salicylic acid and of acetyl salicyl ic acid (ASS) is described in detail as is the discovery of additional ther apeutic applications and the basic pharmacology of ASS.