PANCREATIN 623 



Much of the commercial pepsin is inert, or is composed 

 largely of diucus, albumin and peptone, which later gives the 

 preparation a musty odor and causes it to absorb moisture 

 when exposed to the air, and to become sticky. 



Pepsin is serviceable in gastric indigestion of young 

 animals, which is sometimes accompanied by diarrhoea, and 

 in dyspepsia and feeble digestion caused by acute illness. 

 Its use must not be loug persisted in, as the normal 

 functions of the stomach will fail from lack of use. 

 Pepsin is administered in pill, or solution with hydrochloric 

 acid. 



Pangreatinum. Pancreatin. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Zymine, B.P. 



A mixture of the enzymes naturally existing in the pan- 

 creas of warm-blooded animals, usually obtained from the 

 fresh pancreas of the hog (Sus Scrofa Linne ; class Mam- 

 malia ; order Pachydermata). 



Derivation. — Chopped hog's pancreas is macerated in a 

 dilute aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid for 48 hours, 

 and pancreatin, which is separated by adding a saturated 

 solution of sodium chloride, rises to the surface and is 

 skimmed off, drained, washed, and when nearly dry, is 

 diluted with sugar of milk until 10 grains will exactly 

 emulsify 2 drachms of cod-liver oil. 



Properties. — A yellowish, yellowish-white or grayish, 

 amorphous powder; odorless, or having a faint, peculiar, 

 not unpleasant odor, and a somewhat meat-like taste. Slowly 

 and almost completely soluble in water ; insoluble in alcohol. 



Dose. — D., gr.v.-xv. (.3-1.). 



Action and Uses. — Pancreatin fulfils a fourfold function 

 by virtue of the four ferments contained in it. It digests 

 proteids by means of the ferment, trypsin; it decomposes 

 and emulsifies fat owing to the ferment, steapsin; it converts 

 starch into sugar by reason of the ferment, amylopsin ; it 

 coagulates milk through the action of a milk-curcHing fer- 



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