Albumin

[al-bu’ ’-min) [alb us, white]. A proteid substance, the chief constituent of the animal ti ues. Its molecule is highly complex. It is soluble in water and coagulable by heat. It contains the following elements: Carbon 51.5 to 54-5; hydrogen 6.9 to 7.3; nitrogen 15.2 to 17.0; oxygen 20.9 to 23.5; sulphur 0.3 to 2.0. Its approximate formula is C72H112N18022S. Albumen, white of egg, often called albumin, is largely composed of it. Other varieties are called after their sources or characteristic reactions, as acid-albumin, alkali-albumin, muscle-, serum-, ovum-, vegetable-albumin, etc. A., Blood. See Serum-albztmin. A., Case i form, that variety not coagulated by heat, but precipitated by acids. A., Circulating, that found in the fluids of the body. A., Derived, a modification of albumin resulting from the action of certain chemicals upon native albumin. A., Muscle-, a variety found in muscle-juice. A., Native, any albumin occurring normally in the ti ues. A., Organic, that forming an integral part of the ti ue. A., Serum-. See Serum-albumin. A., Vegetable, that found in various vegetable juices. 40