PEPSIN AS A MEDICINE. 



379 



Care must be taken that the temperature does not 

 rise much above 100, because the action of the 

 solvent would be completely destroyed. When dry 

 the mucus is scraped from the glass, powdered in a 

 mortar, and transferred to a well-stoppered bottle. 

 With this powder a good digestive fluid may be made 

 as follows : 



Of the powder ... ... ... 5 grains. 



Strong hydrochloric acid ... 18 drops. 



Water 6 ounces. 



Macerate, at a temperature of 100 for an hour. The 

 mixture may be filtered easily, and forms a perfectly 

 clear solution very convenient for experiments. 



Pepsin as a Medicine. If the powder is to- be taken 

 as a medicine, from two to five grains may be given 

 for a dose, a little diluted hydrochloric acid in water 

 being taken at the same time. The pepsin powder 

 may be mixed with the salt at a meal. It is devoid 

 of smell, and has only a slightly salt taste. It under- 

 goes no change if kept perfectly dry, and contains the 

 active principle of the gastric juice almost- unaltered. 



The method of preparing this pepsin was commu- 

 nicated by me to Mr. Bullock, of the firm of Messrs. 

 Bullock and Reynolds, 3, Hanover-street, Hanover- 

 square, who at once adopted it for the preparation of 

 medicinal pepsin, and soon improved upon it in some 

 particulars.* Gradually the usefulness of this pre- 



* Mr. Bullock supplies genuine pepsin at the rate of 2s. per drachm. 

 The dose is from 2 to 4 or 5 grains. Test : Less than one grain oi this 



