GELATINUM — GELATIN 329 



COTARNINAE HYDROCHLORIDUM 



Synonym. Stypticine hydrochloride 



This is an artificial alkaloid obtained by hydrolyzing narcotin, one 

 of the opium alkaloids and treating the resulting cotarnine with hy- 

 drochloric acid. It resembles hydrastinine in its composition, oc- 

 curs in the form of a yellow powder or crystals, has a bitter taste and 

 is freely soluble in alcohol and water. It has been recommended in 

 the same conditions as hydrastinine and as a local remedy to arrest 

 hemorrhage. It may be applied in solution with a tampon and is 

 said to be valuable in persistent epistaxis. 



GELATINUM 



Synonym. Gelatin 



Gelatin is the dried product of the action of boiling water upon 

 animal tissues, such as skin, ligaments, tendons and bones. It oc- 

 curs in transparent thin sheets and is without odor or taste. It is in- 

 soluble in cold water, soluble in hot water and if in solutions over 

 2 per cent, gelatinizes upon cooling. Solutions heated above 230° F. 

 do not gelatinize. 



Preparation. 



Gelatinum Glycerinatum. Glycerinated gelatin. Gelatin 

 100 gms., glycerin 100 gms., water enough to make 200 

 mils. 



Action. Dastre and -Floresco, in 1896, demonstrated that the 

 blood drawn from a dog which had received intravenously a 5 per 

 cent, solution of gelatin coagulated almost immediately and that the 

 same results could be obtained by adding gelatin to the blood out- 

 side the body. As proof that the solidification was due to clotting 

 and not to gelatinizing, they also demonstrated that the coagulation 

 would occur at a temperature of 38° C. (100.1° F.) at which a 5 

 per cent, solution of gelatin will not jellify. Moreover they also 

 demonstrated that the action could be obtained in solutions below the 

 necessary per cent, for jellifying (2 per cent.). 



Lancereaux and Paulesco (1898) determined that subcutaneous 

 injections of gelatin were equally effective as intravenous injec- 

 tions for increasing the coagulability of the blood. It has not yet 

 been determined whether its action is effected by digestion although 

 some practitioners have reported success in hemorrhages when it has 

 been administered by mouth or rectum. There has been no satisfac- 

 tory explanation advanced to account for the action of gelatin upon 

 the coagulability of the blood. 



Hogan (1915) reported several experiments and actual cases in 

 human practice in which gelatin has been used successfully in shock. 



