116 
ON PEPSINE. 
pepsine is taken in dose of 1 gramme, enveloped in wafer-paper ; if necessary, a second 
dose is taken at the end of the meal, or an hour after. In some special cases'of ‘painful 
digestion 1 centigramme of hydrochlorate of morphia, or codeia, is added to each dose of 
acidulated pepsine: the addition of 3 milligrammes of strychnine is useful in muscular 
atony of the stomach. 
Elixir of garus, 30 grammes. Syrup of cherries, 40 gr. Distilled water, 80 gr. 
Starchy pepsine, 10 gr. Dissolve the pepsine in the water, filter, add the elixir and svruo. 
Dose, 1, 2, or 3 tablcspoonfuls twice during the meals. 
4. Elixir de Pepsine (Corvisart).—Elixir of garus, 150 grammes. Starchy pepsine, 
10 gr. Triturate the pepsine with the elixir, macerate for half an hour in a covered 
vessel, and filter through paper previously moistened. Dose, one tablespoonful before or 
during meals. 
o. Compound Elixir of Pepsine .—Elixir of garus, 150 grammes. Syrup of cherries, 
o00 gi. Starch pepsine, 30 gr. Mix as previously directed. Dose, one tablespoonful 
before or during meals. 
c !% Pepfine (Mialhe).—Starchy pepsine, 6 grammes. Distilled water, 24 gr. 
White.wine (Lunel), 54 gr. Sugar, 30 gr. Proof spirit, 12 gr. Macerate until the 
sugar is entirely dissolved ; filter. This elixir has an agreeable taste, and is taken with¬ 
out reluctance. Dose, same as preceding. 
and fitter^'” 6 Wine ‘~' Starch F pepsine, 10 grammes. Wine (Lunel), 200 gr. Macerate 
,, PpfP of Pepsine (Corvisart).—Syrup of cherries, 150 grammes. Starchy pepsine, 
, if r ‘ i eat ~ be s y ril P 20° or 25° Cent. Mix with the pepsine, leave in contact for 
half an hour, filter. 
0. Pepsine Pills (Boudault, Hottot).-—Starchy pepsine, 10 grammes. Powdered tra- 
gacanth, q. s. for GO pills. Dose, three pills at the commencement and three after, and 
sometimes three during the meal. 
10. Pepsine Pills (Hogg).—Starchy pepsine, 10 grammes. Nitrate of bismuth, 5 gr. 
tactic acid, 2j gr. Mix, and divide into 100 pills; coat with sugar and balsam of 
tofu. Dose, 4 to 12 pills one hour after meals. 
11. Pills of Pepsine and Iodide of Iron. —Starchv pepsine, 10 grammes. Iodide of 
iron, in crystals, 5 grammes. Syrup, q. s. Divide into 100 pills; coat with reduced 
lion, 10 grammes ; finish with the sugar coating, as No. 10. 
r -• Pepsine and Iron Pills (Hogg). Starchy pepsine, 10 grammes. Gentian powder, 
.) grammes. Syrup, q. s. Divide into 100 pills ; coat with reduced iron, 25 grammes ; 
finish with sugar, etc., as preceding. 
lo. Copaiba and Pepsine Capsules (Ricord et Faviot).—-Balsam of copaiba, 270 
grammes. Neutral pepsine, 60 grammes. Nitrate of bismuth, 12 grammes. Calcined 
magnesia, 18 grammes. Divide into GOO capsules. 15 to 18 daily. 
it is a question at first with what design pepsine is combined with copaiba, if it is in 
order to render it more absorbable, as it is known that fats and resins are rendered easier 
o absorption by alkalies, by the bile and pancreatic secretion, not by pepsine ; on the 
ot rer band, pepsine acts solely in the presence of acids ; here it is combined with an 
alkaline earth,_ which cannot but injure its action. This formula of Ricord and Favrot 
seems to be imitated from that of Dr. Sigmund, who has seen that bichloride of mer- 
cury copaiba, and cubebs were better supported when in combination with pepsine. 
he modes of administration proposed for pepsine are very numerous, but. in Corvi¬ 
sart s opinion, the pepsine in powder, the syrups, the elixirs, and wine answer every exi- 
gency. 1 he most preferable forms are those that are most miscible with r the food. 
, 1 ^ al V be ® . addition of codeia, nitrate of bismuth, strychnine, lactate of iron 
an reduced iron (in small doses), which are without any injurious action on pepsine* 
many iormuloe have been proposed in which it is combined with a large number of other 
remedies; but these preparations are better avoided. So the combination of pepsine 
wi n alkalies or alkaline lactates is not physiological; the alkalies very certainly pro- 
( uce good results in some dyspepsias, hut they have an action very distinct from that 
o pepsine. We think that the alkaline salts and the gastric secretion may be mutually 
injurious when meeting in the stomach, especially when the stomach does not suffi¬ 
ciently renew the peptic fluid, for it is necessary to remember that the acidity is the 
essential ingredient in it, and it is therefore necessary to employ pepsine and the alka¬ 
line lactates separately. 
