digitalin (dij-it-al'in)

The term digitalin is used generally for all of the digitalis bodies, and, in a more restricted sense, for any one of several substances which differ from each other, more or le . These substances are as follows: amorphous d.; also known as digitalin amorphe and digitalin chloroform i que (Homolle's d.), the d. of the French codex. This substance is probably a more or le impure form of true d., differing somewhat in its physical properties, owing to the presence of impurities, including digitonin. The amorphous d. of Homolle is used occasionally and mention is frequently made of it in the literature of the subject. It is a very active substance, used like true d. crystal lin d. Also known as digit a linum crystal lisa tum, digit a line crystal i see, and Nativelle's crystal lin digitalin. This substance is probably identical with digitoxin, and they are often given as synonyms, though it is probable that the original product of of Nativelle may have contained some slight impurity. crystallized d. So-called Merck's d. This is not a d. in the more restricted sense of the word, but is really a digitonin, which is without a digitalis action on the heart. German d. Also known as digit a linum German i cum, so called digit a linum purum. It consists of a mixture of glucosids, of which digitonin constitutes about 60 per cent. It is prepared from digitalis seed, after the manner of Walz, and is the substance commonly dispensed when d. is ordered without further specification. It is soluble in water and in alcohol. Merck's d. See crystallised d. true d. Also known as digit a linum verum killiani, the d. of Sclxmiedeberg. It is probably a pure principle, C35H36O14, and second in activity only to digitoxin among the principles found in digitalis. It is prepared from the leaves and seeds of Digitalis, and, commercially, from German d. It is nearly insoluble in water and quite insoluble in alcohol. All of the d's here enumerated, except the so-called crystallized d. of Merck, have a similar action on the heart, differing mainly, or wholly, in the degree of their activity.