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, CaHsCOH)^,. 



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. 



