An attention to the facts and principles thus briefly explained above will be found of great value in the laboratory.
EXCIP′IENT. See Prescription.
EXCI′TANTS. See Stimulants.
EXCORIA′TIONS. Syn. Sprays, Chafings.
In surgery and pathology, superficial injuries or affections of the skin, consisting of the removal
of the scarf-skin or cuticle, accompanied with more or less irritation and slight inflammations. When arising from rough friction or attrition, they are more commonly called abrasions. Young children are very apt to be chafed under the arms, behind the ears, between the thighs, and in the wrinkles and folds of the skin generally, unless great attention is paid to cleanliness, and wiping the skin perfectly dry after washing them. Whenever there is a tendency to excoriations of this kind, either in adults or children, a little finely powdered starch, or violet powder, applied by means of a puff, or a small bag of muslin, once or twice a day, will generally remove them, and prevent their occurrence in future. Mild unguents, as cold cream, or spermaceti cerate or ointment, may also be used with advantage. The preference should, however, be given to the remedies first named, from their not soiling the linen. See Abrasion.
EXCRETA. The excrementitious matter evacuated from the bowels varies of course in composition and quantity according to the food from which it is derived.
Berzelius found a sample analysed by himself to yield about seventy-five per cent. of water, the remainder being made up of alimentary waste, and biliary matter. A large amount of phosphates of calcium and magnesium was found in the ash remaining after the incineration of the solid matter. A specimen of fæcal matter examined by Playfair yielded 15 per cent. of nitrogen and 45 per cent. of carbon. Marcet states that he has obtained from excrement a crystallisable body possessing an alkaline reaction; to which he gives the name excretin; also a fatty substance, which he terms excretolic acid. To excretin he assigns the formula C78H156SO2; the composition of the acid has not been determined.
Hinterberger has succeeded in getting excretine (excretin), free from sulphur, and gives as its simplest formula C20H36O; which shows a close resemblance to cholesterin, C26H44O.
But cholesterin is less easily dissolved in vinegar than excretin, and the solution deposits crystals which, when viewed by the microscope, are found to be beautiful silky six-sided prisms, while the excretin solution yields round masses.