- A nitrogenous substance, or mixture of substances,
containing sulphur in a loose state of combination, and forming the
chemical basis of epidermal tissues, such as horn, hair, feathers, and
the like. It is an insoluble substance, and, unlike elastin, is not
dissolved even by gastric or pancreatic juice. By decomposition with
sulphuric acid it yields leucin and tyrosin, as does albumin. Called
also epidermose.
Definition
[ n.]