KERATIN

n. Ke2r'a2t-i11n. Lat., ceratium, keratinum (from K<?pa, a horn). Fr., ceratine, keratine. Ger.,K., Corne'in. A substance obtained by boiling the horny parts of animal substance horns, nails, hair,' feathers, epidermis succe ively in ether, aleccol, water, and dilute acids. It contains about 51 per cent, of carbon, 6P5 per cent, of hydrogen, 17 per cent, of nitrogen, 20 to 25 per cent, of oxygen, and from Tg to 5 per cent, of sulphur. It is a gum-like substance used to protect pills from the action of the gastric juice, and yet allow them to di olve in the alkaline contents of the small intestine. [B, 370 (a, 38); " Proc. of the Am. Pharm. A ec.," xxxiii (a, 39).] K'pillen. Pills coated with k. by being dipped in a solution of it. [a, 38.J [s. 533]