Forms 



OF 



Botanical Medicines. 



INFUSIONS. 



These preparations are made of ground or bruised 

 roots, barks, herbs, or seeds, by pouring boiling water 

 over the drug, letting it stand for half-an-hour, occa- 

 sionally stirring, and finally straining the clear liquid 

 carefully off. Sometimes cold water may be used, as in the 

 case of a few bitters, such as Calumba, Quassia, &c, when 

 the ground drug will be found to yield its properties to 

 water without heat. The usual quantity of drug to a 

 pint of water is i ounce, but in a few cases where the 

 drugs contain very active principles, less is sufficient. 

 The dose of most infusions varies from a tablespoonful 

 to a wineglassful or a teacupful. 



DECOCTIONS. 



As a rule decoctions are made by pouring cold water 

 upon the cut, bruised, or ground drug, the mixture being 

 boiled for twenty minutes to half-an-hour, cooled, and 

 strained. Roots and Barks are generally treated in this 

 manner, as they need longer subjection to heat to 

 extract their virtues. Decoctions are generally made 

 in a strength of i ounce to the pint, but, as the water 

 boils away, it is best to put on a pint and a half, and 

 the decoction should then when finished measure i 

 pint. The length of time depends upon the readiness 

 with which the drug gives up its active principles to 

 water. The dose varies from two teaspoonfuls to a 

 wineglassful or two. 



FLUID EXTRACTS. 



These are the most popular and convenient Herbal 

 preparations, inasmuch as they, if properly made, are 



