BALLS BOLUSES PILULE 703 



The neutral organic principles are another group of 

 concentrated active vegetable drugs. They contain carbon, 

 hydrogen, and oxygen, and comport themselves sometimes 

 as bases, sometimes as acids. Under the influence of acids 

 and organic ferments nearly all split up, yielding glucose, 

 and hence are called glucosides. They are represented by 

 aloin, digitalin, santonin, and salicin, and it will be observed 

 have the terminal ' in,' which distinguishes them from the 

 alkaloids, to which the termination ' ine ' or ' ina,' or, in the 

 older works, ' ia,' is given. 



The organic animal extracts, prepared from bone marrow, 

 heart, muscle, brain, spinal cord, testicle, liver, and thyroid 

 gland, and occasionally prescribed for the human subject, 

 are seldom employed in veterinary medicine. 



BALLS-BOLUSES-PILUL^E 



Balls correspond in veterinary practice with the pills used 

 in human medicine. Extracts are conveniently moulded 

 into cylindrical balls. Drugs in powder or concentrated 

 solution may be enclosed in gelatin capsules, in cachets, or 

 made into mass or bolus with such excipients as linseed 

 meal and water, oil, lard, soap, mucilage, liquorice, and 

 powdered gentian, treacle, syrup, glycerin, vaseline, and 

 confection of roses, the choice being determined by the 

 nature of the active ingredients. The excipients first 

 mentioned are chiefly used when the bolus or mass is intended 

 for immediate use ; when it is to be kept for any consider- 

 able time some of the others are more suitable. To keep a 

 mass in a moist, soft-solid state, it is often advisable to add 

 to it a small quantity of such a deliquescent alkaline salt 

 as potassium acetate, which serves especially well for most 

 diuretic masses. When the active principles are resinous, 

 a little alcohol, glycerin, or oil of turpentine is a useful 

 addition, as in making aloetic masses. 



In preparing a ball mass, the various ingredients are 

 sometimes mixed in a mortar or on a slab ; but when the 

 materials are waxy or resinous, the aid of heat is necessary. 

 A good ball mass must be soft, and yet possessed of proper 

 consistence and cohesion, must retain these properties 



