Pharmaceutical Considerations 39 



precipitate but little, are well made from the phar- 

 maceutical standpoint, and are exceedingly active 

 pharmacologically. This list includes many botanic 

 drugs not commonly available in the form of fluid- 

 extracts. 



But, like in the making of fluidextracts, to pro- 

 duce such concentrated tinctures so they will assay 

 up to alkaloidal standard, and yet not precipitate 

 in time, requires elaborate processes in manufacture. 



In order to avoid these troubles and make the 

 fabrication of such concentrated products within 

 the reach of the retail pharmacist, the Journal 

 of North American Retail Druggists suggested the 

 abolition of our present tinctures and fluidextracts 

 and the substitution of an uniform 50 per cent 

 tincture; and these are the reasons given: Fluid- 

 extracts are difficult to make without elaborate 

 apparatus using heat, thus making the product of 

 poor quality and causing many drugs to fall into 

 disrepute from failing in the hands of physicians. 

 Official tinctures contain too much alcohol for the 

 good of the patient when adequate doses are given. 

 Because of unsatisfactory conditions in the prepa- 

 ration of products of botanic drugs, proprietary 

 specialties of actual efficiency are taking the place 

 of official preparations. With 50 per cent tinctures, 

 opportunity would exist to flavor and sweeten drugs 

 prescribed in admixture and still maintain the dose 

 as one teaspoonful. 



From the standpoint of retail pharmacy, these 

 are admirable recommendations; but from the point 

 of view of the physician, the points raised testify 

 to the fact that he is obliged to specify when he 

 prescribes fluidextracts, for many of them are simply 



