652 AGENTS OP ANIMAL OEIGIN 



animals. Oxymel (clarified honey, 8 parts ; water and acetic 

 acid, each 1 part) is a soothing preparation for the throat. 



Saochakum Laotis. Sugar of Milk. (BiaH^jOn + E.fi.) 

 (U. S. & B. P.) 



Synonym. — Lactose, lactin, milk sugar, E.; sucre de lait, 

 Fr.; milchzucker, G. 



A peculiar,, crystalline sugar obtained from the whey of 

 cows' milk, by evaporation, and purified by recrystallization. 



Properties. — "White, hard, crystalline masses, yielding a 

 white powder, feeling gritty on the tongue; odorless, and 

 having a faintly sweet taste. Permanent in the air. Soluble 

 in about 6 parts of water ; insoluble in alcohol, ether, or 

 chloroform. 



Dose. — Ad lib. 



Uses. — Sugar of milk is less soluble and therefore less 

 sweet than cane sugar. It is harder, and thus assists in the 

 subdivision of drugs, and serves as a vehicle in the making 

 of powders and triturates. It also forms the basis of homoeo- 

 pathic preparations. 



Sugar of milk is a considerable diuretic and may be 

 given to dogs in 2 to 4 drachm doses daily, in solution in the 

 ' drinking water, for dropsy of renal or cardiac origin. 



Pepsinum. Pepsin. (U. S. & B. P.) 



A proteolytic ferment or enzyme obtained from the 

 ■glandular layer of fresh stomachs from healthy pigs, and 

 i capable of digesting 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 in precipitated from this solution by the addition of 

 sodium chloride and rises to the surface. The floating mix- 

 ture is skimmed' off, 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. 



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