26 



CRESOL. 



DIGITALIS. 



clear solution is produced. Finally, add enough water to make the finished product 

 weigh 100 Gm. 



Properties of Liquor Cresolis Compositus: 



Appearance 



Color 



Odor 



Taste .. 



Solubility : 



H 2 O 



Appearance of solution 



Liquor Cresolis Compositus is used as an antiseptic wash in the strength of a 5% 

 solution in sterile water. 



DIGITALIS. 



Digitalis, or Foxglove (originally Folk's glove}, consists of the carefully dried 

 leaves of Digitalis pur pur ea (Fam. Scrophulariacece). 



Properties: 

 D. Leaf: 



Appearance 



Color 



Odor 



Taste 



Tinct. Digitalis: 



Appearance 



Color 



Odor 



Taste .. 



D. Powder : 



Appearance .... 



Color 



Odor 



Taste 



Digitoxin : 



Appearance 



Color 



Odor 



Taste .. 



No alkaloid has as yet been isolated from Digitalis, though some uncertain gluco- 

 sides, digitonin, digitalin, and digitalein, and a crystallizable principle, digitoxin, have 

 been discovered, and extensively studied. Digitonin, constituting niore than half the 

 mixed glucosides, is soluble in water and alcohol. Digitoxin is soluble in alcohol, but 

 not in water, if pure. Digitalin is slightly soluble in either; and digitalein readily 

 soluble. 



No satisfactory assay is available for Digitalis, though manufacturers make an 

 approximate assay by means of the biological test. In this test about 0.006 mil Tinc- 

 ture Digitalis per gram weight of frog is given as the standard amount required to 

 produce the frog's death by cardiac arrest in just one hour. In reference to this, it 

 should be said that the real value of the test is materially affected by many factors per- 

 taining to the condition, age, sex, species, habitat, etc., of the frog. 



Digitalis has its principal utility in medicine in the treatment of auricular fibrilla- 

 tion, and in uncompensated valvular insufficiency. Dose, 0.06 Gm., repeated cautiously. 



Official preparations are: the Fluidextract, the Infusion, and the Tincture, the 

 last being the best preparation to use. 



