FORMS 



OF 



MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS. 



INFUSIONS. 



These preparations are generally made of ground or 

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

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

 occasionally 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 use 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 the 

 liquid. The dose varies from two teaspoonfuls to a 

 wineglassful or two. 



