Alkaloid

[aV-ka-loid) [alkali; el , likene ]. Any one of the nitro gene ous compounds occurring in plants and resembling ammonia in being basic and capable of forming salts with acids. They are believed to be substituted ammonias. Several of the important alkaloids are related to pipe rid in and to quinolin. Alkaloids are, as a rule, the most active parts of plants; many are used in medicine. A., Animal, substances chemically like alkaloids, formed in the decomposition of animal ti ues. A., Cadaveric, or Putrefactive. See Pto7nains. 44