PEPSIN 459 



Gray) (Fam. Suidse). It digests not less than 3000 times its own weight of 

 freshly coagulated and disintegrated egg albumin.. 



Derivation. — The chopped mucous membrane of a pig's stomach is macerated 

 for several days in a weak, aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, with frequent 

 stirring. The pepsin is precipitated from thia solution by the addition of sodium 

 chloride and rises to the surface. The floating mixture is skimmed oif, drained, 

 pressed and dried. Sometimes the surface of the clean mucous membranes of the 

 stomach of pigs, calves, or sheep is simply scraped off and dried. 



Properties. — Lustrous white, pale yellow or yellowish, transparent or trans- 

 lucent scales or grains, or spongy masses, or a fine white or cream-colored 

 amorphous powder, free from any offensive odor, and having a slightly acid or 

 saline taste. It should be not more than slightly hygroscopic. 



Soluble in about 50 parts of water, the solution being more or less opalescent; 

 more soluble in water acidulated with hydrochloric acid; nearly insoluble in al- 

 cohol, ether or chloroform. 



Pepsin, when in solution, is incompatible with alkalies, alkaline earths, or 

 alkali carbonates. 



Dose. — D., calves and foals, gr.x-3i, (.6-4). 



PREPARATIONS. 



Olycerinum Pepsini. (B. P.) 

 (Contains hydrochloric acid, oi=gr.v pepsin.) 

 Dose. — ^D., 3i-ii. 



Action and Uses. — Pepsin is of some value in the treatment of dogs 

 and young animals. It assists the digestion of proteids in the stomach, 

 but has no action on fat or carbohydrates of the food. The drug should 

 usually be given along with hydrochloric acid, which converts any jjep- 

 sinogen, in the gastric tubules, into pepsin. Pepsin contains the unor- 

 ganized digestive ferment of the gastric juice, but is not by any means 

 the pure ferment, which has never been isolated. 



Much of the commercial pepsin is inert, or is composed largely of 

 mucus, albumin and peptone, which later gives the preparation a musty 

 odor and causes it to absorb moisture when exposed to the air, and to 

 become sticky. 



Pepsin is serviceable in gastric indigestion of young animals, which 

 is sometimes accompanied by diarrhea, and in dyspepsia and feeble diges- 

 tion caused by acute illness. Its use must not be long persisted in, as the 

 normal functions of the stomach will fail from lack of use. Pepsin is 

 administered in pill, or solution with hydrochloric acid. 



Pakcreatikum. Pancreatin. (U. S. P.) 



Synonym. — Zymine, B. P.; pancreatina, Fr.; pankreatin, G. 



It contains enzymes, consisting principally of amylopsin, trypsin, and steap- 

 sin, found in the pancreas of warm-blooded animals, and obtained from the fresh 

 pancreas of the hog (Sus scrofa var. domesticus Gray) (Fam. Suidae), or of the 

 ox (Bos taurus Linng) (Fam. Bovidae). It converts not less than 25 times its 

 own weight of starch into soluble carbohydrates when assayed as directed U. S. P. 

 Pancreatin of a higher digestive ' power may be brought to this standard by 

 admixture with sugar of milk. Preserve it in well-closed containers. 



Derivation. — Chopped hog's pancreas is macerated in a dilute aqueous solu- 

 tion of hydrochloric acid for 48 hours, and pancreatin, which is separated by add- 

 ing a saturated solution of sodium chloride, rises to the surface and is skimmed 

 off, drained, washed, and when nearly dry, is diluted with sugar of milk until 10 

 grains wiU exactly emulsify 2 drams of cod-liver oil. 



Properties. — A yellowish, yellowish-white or grayish, amorphous powder; 

 odorless, or having a faint, peculiar, not unpleasant odor, and a somewhat meat- 

 like taste. Slowly and almost completely soluble in water ; insoluble In alcohol. 



Dose. — ^D., gr.v-xv, (.8-1). 



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