MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS. 5 



ALKALOIDS— Alkaloids.— (16 official). Are active ni- 

 trogenous principles existing in plants, extracted by chemical art. 



They are organic bases of alkaline reaction, forming salts 

 with acids, and as salts are very soluble in water and are thus 

 generally used in medicine. 



Examples — Alkaloid, Morphine — Salt, Morphine Sulphate 



" Cocaine — " Cocaine Hydrdchlcrate 



ACETA — Vinegars. — (2 official). Solutions of the active 

 principles of certain drugs in dilute acetic acid. Strength 10 per 

 cent. 



As Acetum opii, vinegar of opium. 

 Acetum scillae, vinegar of squill. 



AQUM — Waters. — (19 official). Solutions of volatile sub- 

 stances in water; these substances may be either solids, liquids 

 or gases, as water, dist. water, Aq. Cinnamomi, Aq. Rosae, Aq. 

 Ammonise, etc. 



CBRATA — Cerates. — (6 official). Unctuous preparations 

 similar to ointments, but of a much firmer consistence, they con- 

 tain wax (cera) and do not melt below 104 F. As Ceratum Can- 

 tharidis, Cer. Camphorse, etc. 



CH ART M— Papers. — (2 official). Strips of paper medi- 

 cated by impregnation, with medicinal substances, or coated with 

 them. 



There are two official papers, charta? potassii nitratis, in- 

 tended for smoking, the other for external application as a vesi- 

 cant or counter-irritant ; as charta sinipis. 



COLLODIA — Collodion. — (4 official). Liquid prepara- 

 tions having for their base a solution of gun cotton in a mixture 

 of ether and alcohol, as Collodium or simple' collodion ; Collodium 

 Flexile, Col. Stypticum and Col. Cantharidatum. 



CONPECTIONES— Confections.— (2 official). Remedies 

 made into a soft mass with sugar, to render them pleasant to the 

 taste ; as Confection of Rose and Senna. 



DECOCT A — Decoctions. — (2 official). These are aqueous 

 preparations of vegetable drugs, made by boiling them for 15 

 minutes (U. S. P. 1890), and they represent 23 grains of drug 

 to the fluid oz., or 5 per cent strength; as Decoctum Cetrarise, 

 Decoc. Sarsaparillse Compositum. 



