PAPAIN 6*25 



Evaporate oxgall, 300, to 100; add alcohol, 100. The alcohol is dis- 

 tilled off from the decanted and filtered solution, and the remainder 

 evaporated to pilular consistence. 



Properties. — A yellowish-greeh, soft solid, having a peculiar odor 

 and a partly sweet and partly bitter taste. Very soluble in water and 

 alcohol. 



Dose. — Same as for oxgall. 



Action and Uses. — Purified oxgall contains all the active 

 elements of bile, — biliary acids, coloring matter and choles- 

 terin. One part of oxgall represents about fifteen parts of 

 bile. Oxgall is a laxative, and substitute for deficiency in 

 the nt)rmal biliary secretion. It is also an intestinal antisep- 

 tic. Oxgall is indicated in constipation with pale-colored 

 faeces. It interferes with gastric digestion and should be 

 given to dogs in pills some hours after meals. Twenty 

 grains dissolved in an ounce or two of water may be given 

 with advantage to dogs (in enema) for chronic constipation 

 with impacted faeces. 



Papain. (Non-official.) 



Synonym. — Papayotine, papaya, papayine, papoid. 



A digestive ferment obtained from the juice of the 

 unripe fruit of Carica papaya (Papaw), an herbaceous tree 

 growing in the East and West Indies. Papain or papayotine 

 are often used to describe the dried juice itself, which exists 

 in the form of a powder similar to that of gum arable. The 

 ferment is precipitated with alcohol, from the juice, and 

 albuminoid matters are removed by basic lead acetate. 

 Papain occurs in the form of a white, or grayish-white, nearly 

 tasteless powder, soluble in glycerin and water. Papain is 

 said to digest both proteids and carbohydrates, in either an 

 acid or alkaline medium, and is recommended in gastric or 

 intestinal indigestion in pill or powder. It has also been 

 used to destroy pyogenic membrane of fistulse and abscess, 

 in 5 per cent, solution ; or tumors and malignant growths, 

 injected into the tissues in 10 per cent, solution. This latter 

 use is accompanied by pain and febrile temperature, 



