HIPPURIC ACID, found in the urine of horses (whence the Gr. derivation) and other herbivorae. It is excreted when certain aromatic compounds, such as benzoic acid and toluene, are taken internally. It is one of the amino-acids, being ben zoylaminoacetic acid, or benzoyl glycine. It crystallizes in rhombic prisms which are readily soluble in hot water, melt at 187° C and decompose at about 240° C. It is formed by heating benzoic anhydride with glycine, and by heat ing benzamide with monochloroacetic acid. It is readily hydrolysed by hot caustic alkalis to benzoic acid and glycine.