PHARMACY. 



The More Important Medicinal Bodies and Principles 

 Contained in Drugs. 



Alhaloideum, pi. alhaloidea, — alkaloids. Characteristics: 



1. Alkaloids are nitrogenous bodies^ being the active principles of 

 many vegetable drugs. 



2. They resemble mineral bases in that they have an alkaline reac- 

 tion and unite with acids to form soluble crystalline salts. Hence their 

 name^ alkaloids. 



3. Chemically they are ammonia compounds. One or more atoms 

 of hydrogen (in NHj) are replaced by various radicals. 



4. They are mostly insoluble in water, but very soluble in alcohol. 

 Solutions possess a bittei"taste. 



5. They are similar to animal alkaloids (ptomaines) and probably 

 have a like origin, i.e., from the decomposition of albuminoid material. 

 Thus the symptoms of -some kinds of ptomaine poisoning (sausage) re- 

 semble those of plant alkaloid poisoning (atropine). Animal alkaloids 

 (leukomains) may also be formed by body cells, as products of metabol- 

 ism; viz., adrenalin. 



6. Alkaloids are precipitated in solutions by tannin, forming 

 insoluble tannates. 



They are usually solids and their salts are soluble and convenient for 

 hypodermic us'e. 



8. Their Latin ending is inaj- English, inej viz.: Morphina, mor- 

 phine. 



Examples: An alkaloid of cinchona is quinine; of belladonna, atro- 

 pine. 



Glucosideum, pi. glucosidea. — Glucosides are neutral, non-nitrogenous 

 organic bodies, representing the active principles of many vegetable 

 drugs. They yield glucose and other substances on decomposition. Hence 

 their name. Their Latin ending is inumj English, inj viz., salcinum, 

 salicin. 



Examples: A glucoside of digitalis is digitalin; of santoninum is 

 santonin. 



Oleum, pi. olea. — Fixed oils are combinations of glycerin with fatty 

 acids ; usually oleic, stearic, margaric or palmitic acids. They are liquid 

 at ordinary temperatures and soluble in benzin, chloroform and ether. 

 Exposed to the air they undergo acid fermentation, resulting in "rancid- 

 ity." Fixed oils are expressed from fruits and seeds of plants and animal 

 tissue. They are "fixed" because they cannot be distilled. They leave 

 a greasy mark on paper. 



Examples: Cod liver oil, castor oil, olive oil, linseed oil and croton 

 oil. 



Oleum, pi. olea. — Fats are solid, fixed oils. 



Examples : Lard, cacao butter. 



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