Dr. Hancock on Sarsapetrilht. 69 



opportunites of trying its action on numerous patients in every 

 w.iv I thought proper; and I found, by a long series of expe- 

 riments, that the fermented infusion was equally as efficacious 

 here ;is in the Orinoko. It appears to me very probable, that 

 the acetous and alcoholic principles gradually evolved in the 

 course of the fermentation, genre more effectually to extract the 

 active properties of Sarsaparilla than can be done by any other 

 method we are acquainted with. There seems to be a certain 

 fixed principle in the Sarsa from Para and the Rio Negro (and 

 probably in other kinds also), which is not so completely taken up 

 or dissolved by boiling water, for after exhausting lialf a pound 

 of this sort by two digestions, boiling, and pressure, I added to 

 the dregs half a pint of proof spirit, and digested this wrth a gentle 

 heat for a few hours in a close vessel, then affusing hot water 

 to the amount of that taken ofT from the first boiling, and press- 

 ing again, I procured, by this last operation, about four pints 

 of an infusion, which possessed the acrid properties of the Sarsa, 

 in a much higher degree even than that obtained by the first 

 decoction with simple water. 



The activity of Sarsa as a medicine, seems to depend on a 



'•vi, it the same time, so effectually prevent! ita decomposition that it 

 iua\ be kept for a long time quite unaltered, even in a hot climate, — a circum- 

 stance of great moment where it is frequently required for a number of patients. 

 I oaee mentioned such a formula in conversation with ■ i hemk al critic, who, 

 in th>- Mam of Ins wisdom, scouted the idea of such a compound, and pro- 

 nounced most dogmatically, that between the lartarised antimony and muriate ol 



irj , ill-- n liflr would be 'li ■ inwppwd ' 1 merely requested be would try it and 



himaelfj but beard no more irom him. The truth is, no < naqga what* 



hi tin- admixture. Wire the article! of the solution separately 



employed, there would be ■ trifling da ompoiition in the regetable infusion ; but 



i!ms<- three .inn lei being iir»i nailed, form the most effectual ooueai satire eon- 



i which it i \- - — ■ t . i « to devise, either for regetable or inira.nl substances j 



aad tbej so bind rhe different elements ns to render them, for a long time, quite 



•ii . x [-•,« ii r. lo li^-lil and .ii r. 



tidioui .in l >li in it< |" ople, ■ variation was, at time*, requisite, in 



which raw- tin infnaien was taken bj ii-<lf. sad, in Ilea of the nbore tolntion, 



iomel, or tl» jnn oxide .i mercury, with precipitated 



iwiphar o( antimony, m pilli, ware substituted, ai ■ quarter of a -ram of tru 



ih half a grain of the latter, night and morning 



