38 VETERINARY STATE BOARD 



off a faint odor of petroleum. Used principally as a base for 

 ointments. 



What is glycerine? How is glycerine prepared? Give its chemical 

 formula. 

 Glycerine, a trihydroxyl alcohol, is a colorless, syrupy liquid, 

 with a specific gravity of 1.28. It is prepared by the action of super- 

 heated steam and an alkali upon fats, causing a splitting of the 

 fats into fatty acids and glycerine. Formula, 03115(011)3. 



Mention the sources from which each of the following is obtained: 

 (a) acetic acid, (b) lactic acid, (c) tartaric acid. 



(a) From the destructive distillation of wood and the fermen- 

 tation of alcohol. 



(b) From lactic fermentation of sugar; certain bacteria in milk 

 produce the enzyme. 



(c) Obtained from the deposit occurring in the fermentation of 

 wine. 



ALKALOIDS 



What is an alkaloid? State the properties of a vegetable alkaloid. 

 Mention three alkaloids. 

 An alkaloid is an alkaline or basic principle of vegetable or ani- 

 mal origin. Alkaloids combine with acids to form salts. Vegetable 

 alkaloids show the characteristic physiologic properties of the sub- 

 stance from which they are derived. They are usually crystalline, 

 white, with a bitter taste, and odorless, except those which are vola- 

 tile. They are insoluble in alkalies, sparingly soluble in water, but 

 readily soluble in alcohol, ether and chloroform. They are all more 

 or less toxic. 



Strychnia, from nux vomica; morphia, from opium; atropia, 

 from belladonna. 



Mention a chemical antidote for alkaloids and explain why it acts as an 

 antidote. 



Tannin forms an insoluble tannate with nearly all alkaloids. 



TOXICOLOGY 



What is a poison ? 



A poison is any substance applied to the body, ingested, or 

 developed within the body, which causes or may cause disease. 



Give a classification of poisons and an example of each class named. 



1. Irritant poisons, as caustic potash, phenol and caustic acids. 



2. Neurotic poisons, as opium, belladonna and strychnine. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



