Comparisons

Remember the following words and word combinations:

1. to soften [sofn]

2. to melt [melt]

3. mucous membrane [‘mju:kəs’membrein]

4. efficacy [‘efikəsi]

5. incorporation [in,ko:pə’rei∫n]

6. penetration [,penni’trei∫n]

7. epidermic [,epi’dә:mik]

8. endodermic [,endәu’dә:mik]

9. diadermic [,daiә’dә:mik]

10. skin [skin]

11. petrolatum [,petrә’leitәm]

12. wax [wæks]

13. layer [lεə]

14. lard [la:d]

15. wool fat [‘wul’fæt]

16. compatibility [kəm,pæti’biliti]

17. contamination [kən,tæmi’nei∫n]

18. topically [‘topikəli]

19. fusion [‘fju:Зәn]

Text A: Ointments

Since ancient times, ointments have been used as semi-solid preparations for external application. When applied to the body, they soften but not necessarily melt. Their consistency allows them to be readily applied to the body or to mucous membranes. The ointment base¹ usually constitutes the major portion of the pharmaceutical preparation and, therefore, may influence the efficacy of the incorporated medicinal substances.

Depending on their penetration, ointments have been divided into three classes: epidermic, endodermic and diadermic ointments.

Epidermic ointments demonstrate no, or very slight power of penetration into the skin. Bases that contain petrolatum, waxes and their combinations have been placed into this group.

Endodermic ointments possess some power of penetration into the deeper layers of the skin. Most of them have a lower melting point, approaching the temperature of the skin, and contain vegetable oils, lard, wool fat, and/or combinations of these.

Ointments that penetrate the skin have been included into the group of diadermic ointments.

They are emulsion-type ointments and water-soluble bases that belong to the group of absorption base². Absorption bases generally have a high index of compatibility toward the majority of medicaments used topically. These bases have found a definite place in pharmacy as well as cosmetology. Until recently, ointments and ointment-type products were packaged in wide-mouth jars³ made of glass, stoneware, porcelain, or plastic. Recently the ointments containing easily oxidized medicines have become packaged in collapsible metal tubes.

The use of aerosol containers is now preferable for preventing contamination and drying out of the product as well as for protecting water-sensitive drugs.

Ointments are prepared by two methods: 1) mechanical incorporation of a medicament into a base and 2) fusion. The choice of a method depends upon the medicament and the physical properties of the base constituents. An exception is Mercuric Nitrate Ointment, which is prepared by chemical reaction.

Notes:

1. ointment base - мазева основа

2. absorption base – основа, що абсорбується (тобто швидко і повністю всмоктується)

3. wide-mouth jars – посудина з широкою шийкою.

Exercises

Ex.1. In the text A, find and translate the adjectives of the same root with the following words:

medicine - to collapse –

pharmaceutics - to prefer –

mechanics - to solve –

physics – to vegetate –

chemistry – to define –

mucus – epidermis –

sense – mercury –

Ex.2. Translate the word pairs of “noun+noun” type:

Ointment base, temperature changes, emulsion type, absorption base, metal tubes, paper filter, sugar particles, penicillin production, water solution, base constituent, alcohol content, sodium compounds, iron tanks, ammonia decomposition.

Ex.3. Form the comparatives and superlatives of the following adjectives and adverbs and translate them:

a) large, old, few, deep, new, high, poor, low;

b) good, bad, little, many;

c) important, effective, complex, difficult, definite, collapsible, sensitive, preferable;

d) readily, soon, successfully, quickly, often, slowly, much, well.

Ex.4. Put the adjective in brackets in the correct form, comparative or superlative:

1. Chromatography is now the (powerful) tool available for separation and purification of natural products.

2. Sugar is (soluble) in water than gypsum, while AgCl is (little soluble) than gypsum. Of these three substancesn, AgCl is the (little soluble) in water.

3. These ointments can penetrate into (deep) layers of the skin.

4. Sodium and potassium compounds are the (abundant) among the alkali metals.

5. Paper filters are the (useful) of all filters for the pharmacist.

6. Endodermic ointments have a (low) melting point than epidermic ones.

7. Diadermic ointments offer a (good) opportunity for absorption of the medicament.

8. True solutions are those that contain the (fine) particles of substances dissolved.

Ex.5. Choose the correct verb form, Perfect Active or Passive, form the brackets:

1. Depending on their penetration; ointments (have divided, have been divided) into three classes.

2. The use of alcohol as a solvent (has practised, has been practised) for many years.

3. Absorption bases (have found, have been found) a definite place in pharmacy as well as cosmetology.

4. A pair of silver electrodes (has used, has been used) for argentometric iodide titration.

5. The liquid which (has passed, has been passed) through the filter is called the filtration.

6. Several formulae (have suggested, have been suggested) for the preparation of stable reserpin.

7. They (had sterilized, had been sterilized) all the ampoules when the assistant came into the laboratory.

8. When sugar (had crystallized, had been crystallized), the crystals were centrifuged.

9. Extraction spectrophotometry (has received, has been received) great attention in recent years.

10. Careful study of the literature (has shown, has been shown) the absence of data on this problem.

Ex.6. Change the sentences from Active into Passive:

Example: They have produced sulfanilamide by hydrolysis. → Sulfanilamide has been produced by hydrolysis. (by them).

1. Scientists have classified the proteins depending on their solubility.

2. The students have prepared some penicillin salts from benzylpenicillin sodium salt.

3. Our research group has discovered the antibacterial properties of p-aminobenzene sulphonamide.

4. He said that the doctor had administered aspirin to the patient.

5. Experimental data have shown the antibacterial action of this ointment.

6. We have compared the efficacy of these drugs in repeated clinical trials.

7. By the end of the eighteenth century the Pharmacopoeia had included physical properties of substances such as colour, odour, taste and others.

Ex.7. Reply with a sentence in Perfect Passive. Translate the sentences:

Example: Will she use the chromatographic method in this test? – The

chromatographic method has already been used.

1. Cool the solution to 0°C!

2. Will you use the sulphuric acid in your experiment?

3. Is it necessary to determine the melting point of this substance?

4. Try to find the suitable orange-glass bottles to store this medicine.

5. Will they investigate all the samples?

6. Explain the properties of this compound to the students!

7. Shall I repeat the test?

8. Be careful not to spill the acid onto the floor!

9. Don’t forget to sterilize the test-tubes!

10. Are they going to obtain an intermediate substance in this reaction?

Ex.8. Find the equivalents of the following words in the text:

З давніх часів; напівтверді препарати; зовнішнє вживання; стають м’якими, але не обов’язково плавляться; слизові оболонки; мазева основа; в залежності від їх проникнення; мазі були поділені на три класи; дуже слабка здатність проникнення; проникнення в більш глибокі шари шкіри; нижча точка плавлення; що до температури тіла; рослинні олії; нутряний свиний жир; водорозчинні основи; високий показник сумісності; медикаменти, що приймаються місцево; донедавна; кераміка; порцеляна; в металевих тюбиках; аерозольний балон; чутливі до дії води ліки; механічне введення лікарського засобу в основу; синтез; фізичні властивості; складові частини основи.

Ex.9. Re-arrange the sentences in the correct order, in compliance with the text:

1. The choice of method depends upon the medicament and the physical properties of the base constituents.

2. Depending on their penetration, ointments have been divided into three classes.

3. Recently it has been decided to package easily oxidized medicines into collapsible metal tubes.

4. The ointment base usually constitutes the major portion of the pharmaceutical preparation.

5. Absorption bases generally have a high index of compatibility towards the medicaments used topically.

6. Epidermic ointments demonstrate no or very slight power of penetration into the skin.

7. Since ancient times, ointments have been used as semi-solid preparations for external application.

Ex.10. Answer the following questions on the text:

1. What kind of preparation is an ointment?

2. What is the consistency of ointments?

3. Into what classes have ointments been divided?

4. In what way does the power of penetration differ in ointments?

5. What substances does the epidermic ointment base contain?

6. What are the constituents of the endodermic ointment base?

7. What ointments belong to the group of absorption base?

8. What was the long-established way of packaging ointments?

9. What is the method of packaging the ointments containing easily oxidized medicines?

10. Why is the use of aerosol containers preferable now?

11. What three methods are used for the preparation of ointments?

12. What does the choice of method depend upon?

Ex.11. Read the text. Find a) the definition of tinctures; b) the three methods of making tinctures. Find and translate the information on:

a) menstrua employed in official tinctures;

b) the proportion of drug in tinctures;

c) which method to choose?

d) the storage requirements.

Tinctures.

Tinctures have been defined as alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic solutions prepared from animal or vegetable drugs or from chemical substances.

Tinctures are made by percolation, maceration, solution (or dilution). Menstrua¹ which are employed in official tinctures are alcoholic: dilute alcohols of various strength, aromatic ammonia spirit (ароматизований нашатирний спирт), ammonia water, or mixtures of alcohol, water and glycerin. Wines, such as Sherry, have also been used as menstrua and the resulting preparations are referred to as Vini, or Wines.

The use of alcohol as a solvent has been practised for years, but a long time and much effort have been required to determine the proper proportion of water to be added².

The proportion of drug in different tinctures is not the same, but varies according to the established standards. Tinctures of potent drugs essentially represent the activity of 10 gm of the drug in each 100 ml of tincture. Most other tinctures represent 20 gm of the drug in each 100 ml of tincture as to compound tinctures, they have always been made according to long established formulas.

There are three different methods of making tinctures: percolation, maceration and solution or dilution.

Percolation is the best method for making tinctures, if the drugs can be extracted readily. Maceration is used for making tinctures in the case of resins, balsams [‘bo:lsəmz], gums, soap, etc.

Solution or dilution: a few tinctures are made by this method, such as iodine tincture or ferric chloride tincture.

Tinctures should be stored in tight, light-resistant containers protected from exposure to direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Notes

1. menstrua [‘menstruə] pl. від menstruum (хім.) – розчиник

2. water to be added – вода, що повинна додаватись.

Unit 10: Grammar: Model Verbs and