46 METHOD OF PREPARING EXTRACTS AND SIRUPS. 



" For the last several years I have pi-epared my medicines, or 

 rather those of which I make the most frequent use, in such a 

 manner, that the doses in quantity, are much smaller than usual, 

 and are fully as eifectual in their results, if not more so, than the 

 same articles as generally administered. The object most desira- 

 ble in chronic diseases, is not to shock the system by repeated 

 large quantities of active medicine, as is too often the case with 

 practitioners, and from which cause very few real and permanent 

 cures are effected in chronic cases, but to give medicines in the 

 least possible doses that may be found necessary to keep the sys- 

 tem constantly under their peculiar alterative, tonic, or other 

 action, and always in union with the other requisites of proper 

 exercise, diet, cleanliness, &c. 



" My method of preparing these medicines depends upon the 

 required active constituent or constituents of the medicine ; thus, 

 with the greater part of tinctures, I prepare them saturated, instead 

 of the common strength, which of course lessens the dose in quan- 

 tity. * * * From some I obtain only the resin, by 

 extracting all that alcohol will take up, then filter the alcoholic 

 tincture, to which add an equal quantity of water, and separate the 

 alcohol by distillation ; the resin sinks in the water. Thus, an ex- 

 cellent hepatic is obtained from the Hijdrastus canadensis in the 

 dose of from one fourth to three grains ; a purgative, alterative or 

 emmenagogue, from the Iris versicolor, Podophyllum pcltatum, San- 

 guinaria canadensis, Cimicifuga racemosa, Caulophyllum thalic- 

 troides, &c. 



" Sometimes I distil the alcoholic tincture to a certain quantity 

 without the addition of the water, and then evaporate the remain- 

 der until the residue is of the required consistence for a pilling 

 extract, or powder as with Sang, canad., Alctris farinosa, Peonia 

 officinalis. Euphorbia ipecacuanha, Apocynum canahinum, &c. 



" With other articles I make the alcoholic extract, as above, 

 then boil the roots or herbs in water till all the virtues are obtained, 



