Unofficial Animal Products.—Continued. It exists in solution, enclosed in a net-work of delicate membranes, in the white of eggs. It exists in the yolk of eggs. Closely resembles fibrin. Obtained by distilling the ant (Formica rufa). It is a colorless liquid, having a pungent odor, and produces a burning sensation when applied to the skin. Its vapor is inflammable. Used for neuralgic and rheumatic pains. The web of Tegeneria domestica. It has been recommended in phthisis and chronic intermittents, but is most useful in controlling hemorrhage by simply applying it to the bleeding surfaces. The insect Blatta orientalis, about one inch long, oblong, flat, of a reddish-black color, odor very disagreeable. It contains fetid oil, extractive, antihydropin, etc. Used as a diuretic. The insect Formica rufa. It contains a volatile oil and formic acid. Prepared from the venom of the rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus). While the snake is under chloroform the poison contained in the fang is pressed out and mixed with 9 parts of glycerin. Used in diphtheritie scarlatina. From the glandular secretion and dried skin of the toad (Bufo viridis and B. cinereus). Similar in its effects to digitalin. From Sanguisuga medicinalis and S. officinalis. From three to six inches long, smooth, soft, round, tapering at the ends, composed of about one hundred rings; of a blackish-green color. Used for local depletion. Official Animal Substances. What color does it produce in contact with protein compounds? From what classes are the animal products which are of interest in pharmacy derived? Lard-What is the Latin name? Whence is it obtained? How is it prepared? What is the process, used largely in France, of purifying lard? Describe odor, taste, chemical reaction, and solubility. How may the following impurities be detected?-viz.: Alkalies; starch; salt; water. Of what does lard consist? To what is its consistence due? For what is lard used in pharmacy? Benzoinated lard-What is the Latin official name? What was the name of this preparation in the U. S. P. 1870? How is it prepared? What temperature should be used? Does the method of adding tincture of benzoin to lard and mixing make as good a product as the official method? Why? Lard oil-What is the Latin official name? How is it prepared? Give description and specific gravity. What is its usual adulteration? Is this admixture particularly injurious? What is the Latin official name of hydrous wool-fat? How much water does it contain? Suet-What is the Latin official name? Whence is it obtained, and how prepared? Describe odor, taste, specific gravity, and solubility. Give tests for identity. For what is it used? What is pepsin, and whence obtained? How much coagulated egg albumen should it be capable of digesting? How much official pepsin does it contain? Describe Prof. Scheffer's process for making it. How is purified pepsin or scaly pepsin prepared? Describe odor, taste, specific gravity, and solubility. Give tests for identity. Musk-What is the Latin official name? Whence is it obtained? What does it contain? What is the dose? What are its official preparations? Lactic acid-How much absolute acid does it contain? How may it be made? Describe odor, taste, specific gravity, and solubility. Give tests for identity. How may the following impurities be detected?-viz.: Hydrochloric acid; sulphuric acid; sarcolactic acid; fead, iron; sugars; glycerin; organic impurities. What is the dose? Sugar of milk-What is the Latin name? Give formula in symbols and molecular weight. Whence is it obtained? Describe odor, taste, specific gravity, and solubility. Give tests for identity. "What are its uses? Why is it specially useful in pharmacy? Oxgall-What is the Latin official name? What are its constituents? Describe odor, taste, and chemical reaction. For what is it used? Purified oxgall-What is the Latin official name? How is it prepared? What is the official test for it? What is the dose? Isinglass-What is the Latin official name? Whence is it derived? How is it prepared? What is the form of American isinglass? For what purposes is it used? What are the official preparations? Give description and specific gravity. Whence is it obtained? Describe odor, taste, chemical reaction, and solubility. How is it made? What is its composition? For what is it used? What are its official preparations? Cod liver oil-What is the Latin official name? Whence is it obtained? How is the light oil of commerce prepared? What are its constituents? Give description and specific gravity. Describe odor, taste, chemical reaction, and solubility. Give tests for identity. What is the dose? Yolk of egg-What is the Latin official name? What does it contain? Of what does white of egg chiefly consist? For what is yolk of egg useful in pharmacy? What are its official preparations? Cantharides-What is the Latin name? Whence is it obtained? To what do cantharides owe their blistering properties? Describe the physical properties of cantharidin." What is cantharidin believed to be, chemically? What are the medicinal properties of cantharides ? Name its official preparations. Cochineal-What is the Latin name? What is its definition? To what does it owe its red color? For what is it used? Yellow wax-What is the Latin official name? Whence is it obtained? What is its definition? White wax-What is the Latin official name? Which of these is soluble in alcohol? Describe odor, taste, chemical reaction, and solubility. How may the following impurities be detected?-viz.: Fats or fatty acids; Japan wax; resin; soap; paraffin. How is white wax made? What is its specific gravity? What is its principal use in pharmacy? CHAPTER LXII. PHARMACEUTICAL TESTING. A KNOWLEDGE of the methods of using tests with the view of identifying or ascertaining the amount of impurities in articles of the materia medica, is now demanded of the pharmacist. The professional chemist can no longer claim the exclusive right to handle the test-tube and the burette, for the principles of analysis, so far as they relate to medicinal chemicals, must be understood by the practical pharmacist. It is not within the scope of this work to enter into the minute details of the application of each test, the many excellent works on analysis which have been issued within the last five years fully supplying all needs in this direction.1 The introduction of many new tests into the last Pharmacopoeia, however, requiring the use of various reagents and test-solutions, necessitates a brief review of the methods employed in analysis, with some definitions of common terms. Synthesis and Pharmacy treat of the creation or preparation of compounds by building them up from their constituents: thus, by heating together iodine and sulphur, the compound, sulphur iodide, is made. Analysis is the opposite operation: it treats of the decomposition of the compound by separating its constituents: if sulphur iodide be boiled with water, the iodine will be volatilized and may be collected, whilst the sulphur remains with the water, and thus the compound is decomposed and its constituents are separated. The principles of analysis are based upon the application of one chemical substance, of known properties and composition, to another, which results in some change in the color, form, or state of aggregation of one or both substances, and which is intended to lead to the identification of the substance examined, or to the ascertainment of its quantity. All analytical methods require the use of reagents and test-solutions. These may be defined as substances employed in producing the phenomena above described, or the reactions upon which the value of the analysis is based. A list of official reagents and test-solutions is given on pages 1069–1092. Two kinds of analysis, depending upon the extent of the examination, are in use: 1. Qualitative or qualitive. 2. Quantitative or quantitive. 1 The practical pharmacist should be provided with one or all of the following works: Fresenius's Analysis," Hoffman and Power's "Examination of Medicinal Chemicals," Sutton's "Volumetric Analysis," Allen's "Commercial Organic Analysis," and Trimble's "Practical and Analytical Chemistry." |