FLUIDEXTRACTA. EXTRACTA. 



Properties of the more useful official Fluidextracts (continued): 



Official Fluidextracts which are superfluous, either because some other prepara- 

 tion of the same drug, or .some other drug, is eminently superior: Flex. Aurantii 

 Amari, Flex. Cascarae Sagradae Aromaticum, Flex. Cimicifugae, Flex. Cinchonae, Flex. 

 Eucalypti, Flex. Franguloe, Flex. Glycyrrhizae, Flex. Granati, Flex. Nucis Vomicae, 

 Flex. Pilocarpi, Flex. Spigelise, Flex. Zingiberis. 



Official Fluidextracts which are practically inert: Aromaticum Eriodictyi, Gen- 

 tianae, Rosae, Sabal, Sarsaparillae, Sarsaparillae Compositum, Stillingiae, Sumbul, Tar- 

 axaci, Tritici, Uvae Ursi, Xanthoxyli. 



Official Fluidextracts which are obsolete: Aspidospermatis, Buchu, Colchici 

 Seminis, Gelsemii, Grindeliae, Guaranae, Lobeliae, Scillae, Senegae, Staphisagriae, Vera- 

 tri Viridis. 



EXTRACTA. 



An Extract is the concentrated residue obtained by evaporating the percolate, or 

 other exhaust, of a vegetable drug. According to the degree of evaporation, Extracts 

 appear in two forms : the Pilular Extract, of semisolid, pasty consistency ; and the 

 Powdered Extract, consisting of fine, dry powder. Such as are capable of reliable 

 assay have a definite percentage of alkaloidal content. 



Prepare the official Extractum Belladonnae Foliorum as follows: Moisten ibo 

 Gm. No. 40 powder, belladonna leaves with 75% alcohol; pack it firmly in the perco- 

 lator ; saturate it with the menstruum, providing a supernatant stratum. Macerate the 

 powder for 48 hours ; then permit percolation to proceed until the percolate equals 300 

 mils. Distill off the alcohol, and evaporate the residue with frequent stirring, until the 

 substance is of a pasty consistency, being careful that at no time shall the temperature 

 exceed 70 C. Mix the mass thoroughly, and then weigh it. By assay (see below), 

 determine its alkaloidal content, calculate the total alkaloids in the prepared extract, 

 then thoroughly mix in enough glucose to make the total product contain 1.25^0 of the 

 alkaloids of belladonna leaves. 



Assay. In 10 mils diluted alcohol dissolve 2 Gm. pilular extract of belladonna 

 leaves (made above). Place the solution in a separator, adding thereto repeated rins- 

 ings of the first vessel used, utilizing for this wash 10 mils of distilled water mixed 

 with 2 mils NH 4 OH. Repeatedly shake out the extract solution with chloroform; 

 then use weak Ho SO 4 to extract the alkaloids from the chloroform by repeated shak- 

 ings out. Place the acid washings in a separator, render the solution- distinctly alka- 



