ON PEPSINE. 
115 
by beat, alkalies, or acids; sometimes the dilute acids (hydrochloric, etc.) dissolve fibrine, 
causing it at first to swell enormously, which is characteristic of their action. Besides 
this, after twelve hours peptone is not formed ; as the liquid gives a large precipitate 
with nitric acid, this test is conclusive. The following table gives a resume of the con¬ 
ditions, the progress, and the results of the test according to the case.. 
The entire dose of pepsine or other dose for examination being given, two samples 
are taken; with the first the amount of acidity is determined ; to the second 25 grammes 
of water at the ordinary temperature are added, and sufficient acid to render it capable 
of saturating 17 centigrammes of caustic potass (tbe normal acidity of gastric juice); it 
is then agitated until the pepsine is dissolved. If the operator is accustomed to the 
manipulation, it is unnecessary to filter the solution ; if otherwise, it is better to do so. 
When the liquid ceases to flow, any pepsine remaining in the starchy matter on the 
filter is displaced by passing 5 or 10 grammes of water through it until exactly 25 
grammes are obtained; (if the preparation is liquid, 25 grammes are taken, and acidu¬ 
lated as directed ;) G grammes of fresh fibrine, thoroughly washed and pressed into lmen 
to remove the water, are then added to the filtrate, and the bottle, well closed, is kept 
at a temperature of 45°, with occasional agitation, during twelve hours. _ 
For example, the comparative action of 25 grammes of water acidulated, but without 
pepsine, and 25 grammes of water equally acidulated, but with the normal dose of 
pepsine 
Water of the normal acidity of gastric 
juice. 
1. Immediate and enormous swelling 
of the fibrine. After three hours the 
water is almost or entirely absorbed. 
The bottle can be reversed without spill¬ 
ing the contents. 
2. After twelve hours the fibrine is still 
apparent, swollen, and transparent: no 
powdery residue at the bottom of the 
bottle. 
3. The liquid obtained at this hour fil¬ 
ters very gradually. 
4. The whole liquid being filtered, nitric 
acid is added, by means of a tube, drop by 
drop. The first drop produces abundant 
precipitate, almost in a mass. 
Result: Fibrine not digested, absence 
of pepsine, or the pepsine is adulterated. 
Solution of pepsine prepared according to 
the previous instructions. 
1. Little or no swelling of the fibrine, 
no absorption of water. After three hours 
the solution commences. The contents of 
the bottle are liquid. 
2. After twelve hours, and frequently 
before, the fibrine has completely disap¬ 
peared in the solution: a powdery residue* 
remains at the bottom of the vessel. 
3. At this hour the whole of the liquid 
filters very rapidly. 
4. Four drops of nitric acid added to the 
filtered solution produce no precipitate. 
Result: Solution of the fibrine: trans¬ 
formation into peptone; digestion perfect, 
and the pepsine good. 
With pepsine not absolutely pure there is a.slight cloudiness produced by nitric acid, 
showing tlie presence of a product of digestion not perfectly transformed, and still m 
the state of dyspeptone (Meissner). _ ., 
The solution remains perfectly transparent on the addition of four drops ot nitric acid 
=pure pepsine. 
The solution is slightly cloudy = good pepsine. 
The solution is extremely opaline = adulterated pepsine. 
The solution gives an abundant precipitate=absence of pepsine. 
Formula. _The following are the most useful of the many forms in which pepsine is 
1. Extract the pepsine as directed; neutralize with carbonate of soda ; ascertain the 
physiological dose; to 100 such doses add starch sufficient to make 100 grammes: mix, 
powder, and divide into 100 packets. One packet for a dose. 
2. To 100 doses of pure pepsine, add sufficient to saturate 7 centigrammes of potass: 
mix with starch as the preceding. This acid pepsine is sufficiently acidulated in the 
majority of pathological cases, as there exists generally an acid secretion in the stomach ; 
if it is necessary to increase the acidity so as to render it equivalent to-that of the 
gastric juice, 10 centigrammes of lactid or other acid are added to each dose, lhe 
* Pavapeptone digestible in the intestines. 
