PHARMACY. 



The More Important Medicinal Bodies and 

 Principles Contained in Drugs. 



Alkaloideum, pi. Alkaloidea, — 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 reaction and unite with acids to form soluble crys- 

 talline salts. Hence their name, alkaloids. 



3. Chemically they are ammonia compounds. One or 

 more atoms of H (in NH3) are replaced by various radicals. 



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

 in alcohol, Solutions j'ossess a bitter taste. 



5. They are similar to animal alkaloids and probably 

 have a like origin, — i.e., from the decomposition of albumi- 

 noid material. 



6. Alkaloids are precipitated in solutions by tannin, 

 forming insoluble tannates. 



7. They are usually solids and their salts are soluble 

 and convenient for hypodermic use. 



8. Their Latin ending is ina ; English, ine ; viz. : Mor- 

 phina, morphine. 



Examples : An alkaloid of cinchona is quinine ; of 

 belladonna, atropine. 



Glticosideum, pi. Glucosidea. — Glocosides are neutral, 

 non-nitrogenous organic bodies, representing the active prin- 

 ciples of many vegetable drugs. They yield glucose and other 

 substances on decomposition. Hence their name. Their 

 Latin ending is inum ; English, in ; viz., salicinum, salicin. 



Examples : A glucoside of digitalis is digitalin ; of 

 santouinum is santonin. 



70 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



