Acidum Uricum. Uric Acid.
Other tomes: --
C5H4N4O3 = 168.072.
Uric acid, C5H4N4O3, may be obtained from guano or from serpents' excrement. It occurs in white, odourless and tasteless crystals, which are decomposed without melting when heated. When a small quantity is mixed with nitric acid and the mixture evaporated to dryness, a yellow residue is left, which changes to violet on the addition of ammonia (murexide test).
Slightly soluble in water, soluble in concentrated sulphuric acid and reprecipitated on dilution with water; insoluble in alcohol or ether.
Action and Uses.— Uric acid is said to be quite inactive. A large amount of uric acid present in the body, by crystallising out, produces a tissue-necrosis.
Dose.—4 to 8 milligrams (1/16 to 1/8 grain).
