A product of the oxidation of ethylic alcohol and of the destructive distillation of wood, applied locally as a counterirritant.
Applied externally it is used as a counterirritant in skin diseases.
counterirritant coun·ter·ir·ri·tant (koun'tər-ǐr'ĭ-tənt)
An agent that induces local inflammation to relieve inflammation in underlying or adjacent tissues. adj.
Relating to or producing counterirritation.