Dr. fftmrnri on S,irsaparilla. 67 



to be a vast improvement in the preparation of decoctions, ex- 

 tracts, ^c. It doubtless will be an advantage where much 

 boiling is really necessary, principally by avoiding the access of 

 air, smoke, and sooty matter, by which the extracts will at 

 least appear more clear and pleasing to the eye; but it will by no 

 means obviate the main objection just stated to the process of 

 boiliug, while it is far too operose and expensive for general 

 and it", as asserted, the atmospheric pressure be taken off, it 

 will not only facilitate the evaporation of the water, but that of 

 the volatile elements of the drug likewise. There is, however, 

 no occasion whatever for boiling : if the drug be duly bruised or 

 reduced to a gross powder, the affusion of boiling water and 

 digestion therein, just below the boiling point, will extract the 

 active properties of this or other vegetable remedies, as com- 

 pletely as could be done by the longest coction, and without the 



or dissipation of their volatile parts ;* and when required, it 

 may be effected with a verj small quantity of fluid, if a power- 

 ful press be employed after due maceration in hot water. The 

 acdirinnl properties of dried vegetables, may thus be extracted 

 as perfectly as could he done by expressing their juices in a 



i <>r green state. Those containing resinous principles, 

 require, of course, a similar operation with alcoholic menstrua 

 or proof spirit. This Method would be the most expedient for 

 BSJSJMrisjj unaltered the native pr op e r ties of all those remedies 



depending on volatile or rugaeeous principles, as in the narcotic 



drugs, or tlms.- containing essential oils, for example, hemlock, 



henbane, mvine, Ice* 



Over such preparation as I have just deprecated, that em- 

 ployed bj the Spaniards of the Orinoko, is indisputably superior. 

 There, it is prepared constantly without boiling, either by di- 



• It It I In- thullttiun nr ml, tlinr mat inn, OtSSftd liy I In- liiat, uhii li • li-v.iti-s Mid 

 I i.f! ill-- tOMOM VSfNMf ami ilii rolstilfl part n nf tin- inPlliOC along with it. 

 When at lltr t< ni|«TBlur tbl w.ili r is pragfVMiTOlj < unvi-rti I uitii -li BBS 



at tin- I...U..111 ol th. n ml, iti ila»t icily or •SpSBtftfS poWM ttkBOOfl NOBBlBfJ tl»' 

 weight .,f (In- »u|«f in. umlx-til atiii<iH|iln n Bj laisfag BBI lirat, tlii-ri-lm 

 0m boUiag point, we rapid!) in roue thei m, whilst ths tobn Bl povst of 



the *>at>-r r- nun • nearly tl 



. s 



