22 MEDICINAL USES OF HOPS. 



lupuline is best exhausted by the aromatic spirit of ammonia, 

 and the reason for this appears to be that this preparation 

 contains the combination of alkali and rectified spirit neces- 

 sary to the solution of the various elements in these drugs. 

 Certainly no agent that I have tried extracts the virtues of 

 lupuline so well as sal-volatile. The result is a strong, 

 richly-coloured tincture. Neither rectified spirit, ether, nor 

 of course proof spirit, produces so strong a preparation. I 

 recommend the following formula : 



" Lupuline, 2 oz. ; spirit ammon. arom., a pint. Macerate for seven days, 

 agitating occasionally; then filter and add sufficient of the menstruum to 

 make up to a pint. The dose of this is from m. 20 to fl. ^j. 



" I have no hesitation in directing attention to this prepara- 

 tion of the hop as the best we at present possess. According 

 to Christison, the dose of tinctura lupuli should be fl. 3J to 

 fl. J iss, to produce any hypnotic effect ; the ordinary dose 

 consists of as many drachms. Dr. Ives, of New York, states 

 that the tincture of lupuline is an effectual hypnotic in rest- 

 lessness, the result of nervous irritability, and in delirium 

 tremens.* Some advantage, too, is derived from the presence 

 of ammonia in considerable quantity, and this whether the 

 preparation be exhibited as a hypnotic, or as a tonic combi- 

 nation of bitter and ammonia." 



Mr. C. Lewis Diehl thus prepares the elixirs prescribed by 

 the physicians of Louisville : 



Elixir of Hops. Add 2 fluid ounces of fluid extract of hops made 

 according to the formula for fluid extract of gentian of United States to 

 13| fluid ounces of simple elixir; mix and filter. 



* Vide American Codex, also Nevin's ' Translation of Lond. Pharm./ 1851. 



