LACTIC ACID 251 



moist air. Soluble in 0.63 parts of water and in 1.61 parts 

 of alcohol. 



I)ose.—B.., 3 ii.-iv. (8.-15.); D., gr.x.-xx. (.6-1.3). 



PREPARATION. 



Syrapus Acidi Citrici. Syrup of Citric Acid. (U. S. P.) 

 Citric Acid, 10; water, 10; spirit of lemon, 10; syrup to make 1000. 

 Dose. — Ad lib. 



AciDUM Lacticum. Lactic Acid. H C3H5O3. 



(U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Acide lactique, Fr. ; milchsaure, G. 



An organic acid, usually obtained by subjecting milk- 

 sugar or grape-sugar to lactic fermentation. Composed of 

 75 per cent., by weight, of absolute lactic acid,, and 25 per 

 cent, of water. 



Properties. — A colorless, syrupy liquid, odorless, of a 

 purely acid taste. Spec. gr. about 1.213. Freely miscible 

 with water, alcohol, or ether. 



Dose.—B.., 3 ii.-iv. (8.-15.); D., 1ltxxx..3i. (2.-4.). 



Other acids to be found in other sections. 



Action External. — The concentrated mineral acids are 

 powerful escharotics, but in dilution are stimulant, astrin- 

 gent, rubefacient, or vesicant, according to their strength. 

 Acids have a great affinity for the alkaline juices of the 

 tissues and blood, and weak acid solutions are thus neutral- 

 ized. Strong acids coagulate albumin, probably by combin- 

 ing with alkalies which hold albumin in solution, forming 

 dense compounds with the albuminoids of the tissue. When 

 mineral acids are present in abundance the albumin first 

 coagulated is afterwards dissolved (except nitric acid), and 

 the corrosive action of the acids is extensive. Acids farther 

 destroy tissue by combining with water, for which they have 

 also a great affinity, particularly sulphuric and phosphoric 

 acids. The former withdraws water to such an extent that 

 the tissues are carbonized and blackened. Sulphuric acid 

 is more destructive of tissue and acts more extensively than 



