TINCTURE. 



be kfpt for an ii.acftiiite length of time, and their virtues 

 remain unimpaired. ... ,. 



Tiiiaurcs are prepared by macerating the ingredients in 

 the fpirit in a temperature not exceeding 8o^ at whicli 

 degree, bv aUowing the menUruiim to remain on the in- 

 gredients for a fulticient length of time, all the principles 

 that can prove nlVfnl in the tindurc are extrafted, and 

 tJie folvent faturated. The ingredients muft be dried and 

 reduced to a coarfe powder, and the maceration made in 

 clofe vefl'els, and afiilled by frequent agitation. When 

 completely made, tinftures (hould not be allowed to re- 

 main upoii the ingredients, but be filtered through bibu- 

 lous paper, and kept in this ftate in well-corked bottles. 



The chief ufe of this clafs of preparations is to caufe 

 infufions and decoctions to which they are added, to fit 

 lighter upon the ilomach, or to unite with them fome 

 aftive principle, which the water is incapable of extradt- 

 ing. Thomfon's London Difpenfatory. 



A great variety of tinfturcs may be given to common 

 water, and many remarkable things occur in their changes 

 on the addition of common menllruums. Take a large 

 fpoonful of the fyrup of pomegranate-flowers, mix it with 

 five fpoonfuls of water ; the mixture will be of a very lively 

 and brilliant red : for a violet colour, take the fame quan- 

 tity of fyrup of violets and the fame of water. When 

 thefe tinftures are thus prepared, have at hand a phial, in 

 which is a fmall portion of oil of tartar, which will only 

 look like water remaining after the wafliing of the phial. 

 Pour the red or the violet tinfture into this phial, and it 

 immediately becomes a fine grafs-green. Diffolve the 

 quantity of a walnut of crude fal ammoniac in a glafs of 

 water, pour all cut except three or four di-ops at the 

 bottom, and pour into this glafs the fine red liquor, and 

 it immediately becomes black as ink. In order to change 

 the purple liquor red, only have a fmall quantity of fpirit 

 of vitriol in the bottom of a phial, and pour into this the 

 violet water ; it immediately on this becomes of a florid red. 



Steep Brafil wood in common water, or in white wine, 

 twenty hours ; the liquor will then look of the colour of 

 red wine : pour this into a glafs waflicd with vinegar, and it 

 becomes of a fine yellow, like fack. If this experiment 

 be made with white wine, the wood and the vinegar make 

 fo little alteration in it, that it may be drank afterwards, 

 and the whole procefs feems a way of turning red port 

 into fack. Into this liquor, when yellow, put a few drops 

 of a tinfture of benjamin mr.de in fpirit of wine, and it 

 immediately lofes its yellow colour and becomes white. Beat 

 fome galls to fine powder, and rub the powder on a towel ; 

 then put into a bafon of water, in which any perfon is 

 going to wafli their hands and face, a fmall piece of com- 

 mon green vitriol, or copperas : after the perfon has 

 waflied, let them have this towel to wipe on, and the hands 

 and face will be as black as if wafhed with the common 

 writing-ink ; the copperas in the water and the galls on the 

 towel making real ink where they mix. This does no lall- 

 ir.g injury to the flcin, but will come ofl" again upon wafliing 

 • with foap. Phil. Tranf. W 238, p. 88. 



We fliall here enumerate and defcribe the principal 

 tinclures tliat occur in the materia medica. 



TlscTL'RE of Acetate of Iron is prepared, according to 

 the Dub. Phar. by adding together two ounces of ace- 

 tate of kali and one ounce of lulphate of iron in a fl:one- 

 ware mortar, till they unite in a foft mafs, and when dried 

 by a moderate heat, triturating it with two pints of rec- 

 tified fpirit of wine ; and then digefling it for feven days in 

 a phial, clofely corked, and frequently agitated, and then 

 pouring the clear tinfture from the fjeces. 



TiKCTLRE of /led ate of Iron ivhk Jhrjiiol, is prepared by 

 6 



rubbing together fnlphate of iron and acetate of alkali, of 

 each an ounce, and proceeding as in the lormer article, tri- 

 turating with two pints of alcohol ; and digefting for 

 twenty-four hours. Thefe tintlures have a peculiar odour, 

 a reddifli-brown colour, and a warm ftyptic talte ; and 

 poflefs the fame medical properties as the other prepar- 

 .ajions of iron. The dofe of either may be from W\ x to 

 fjj, given in water or any other fuitable vehicle. 



Tincture of Acetate of Zinc of the Dub. Ph., is ob- 

 tained by rubbing fulphatc of zinc and acetate of kali, 

 of each an ounce, and adding one pint of reftified fpirit 

 of wine, and then macerating for a week with occafional 

 agitation, and filtering through paper. This tinfture is 

 aftringent, but requires to be diluted with water, before 

 it is ufed either as a coUyrium or an injeftion. It may be 

 beneficially employed as an internal remedy in dyfpepfia and 

 other debilities of the ftomach. 



Tincture of Aloes of the Lond. Ph., is prepared by 

 macerating of extraft of fpiked aloes powdered, half an 

 ounce; of extraft of liquorice, an ounce and a half; of 

 water, a pint ; and of reftified fpirit, four fluid-ounces, in 

 a fand-bath until the extrafts are diflblvcd, and then 

 {training. 



The tincture of aloes of the Dub. Ph. is obtained by di- 

 gefl;ing for feven days, half an ounce of focotorine aloes 

 powdered, an ounce and a half of extraft of liquorice dif- 

 folved in eight ounces of boihng water, and eight fluid- 

 ounces of proof-fpirit, and then ilraining. 



The tinllure of focotorine aloes of the Edinb. Ph. is formed 

 by digefl:iiig for feven days, with a gentle heat, in a clofe 

 veffel, often flnaken, half an ounce of focotorine aloes in 

 powder, an ounce and a half of extraft of hquorice, four , 

 ounces of alcohol, and a pound of water ; and pouring off 

 the clear tinfture. Its dofe is from f^fs to fjjfs. 



Tincture, ethereal, of aloes of the Edinb. Ph., is prepared 

 by digefling an ounce and a half of myrrh with a pound 

 of fulphuric ether with alcohol, for four days, in a clofed 

 bottle, and then adding one ounce of Englilh fafl'ron cut, 

 and one and a half of focotorine aloes in powder ; digefling 

 again for four days, and pouring oft" the tinfture. This 

 is a warm ftomachic purgative, and is given with advantage 

 in dyfpeptic affeftions, jaundice, gout, chlorofis, and other 

 cafes in which aloetics are proper ; in dofes of f5j or f5ij as 

 a fl;omachic, and in larger dofes as a briilv purge. 



TinSure, compound, of aloes of the Lond. and Dub. Ph., is 

 prepared by macerating for fourteen days (feven days Dub.), 

 of extraft of fpiked aloes powdered, and fafl'ron, of each 

 three ounces, in two pints of tinfture of myrrh ; and 

 ftraining. 



Tin9ure of aloes and myrrh of the Edinb. Ph., is prepared 

 by mixing a pound and a half of alcohol with half a pound 

 of water, and then adding two ounces of myrrh in powder ; 

 digefl:ing for four days ; and, laftly, adding of focotorine 

 aloes in powder an ounce and a half, and an ounce of Eng- 

 lifli faffron cut ; digefting again for three days, and pouring 

 oS" the clear tinfture. This tinfture may be adminiltered in 

 the fame cafes and dofes as the former ; and it is occafionally 

 ufed as a local ftimulant to foul ulcers. 



The tinllure of aloes, formerly called tinBura facra, and 

 hiera picra, was ordered to be made by digefting five ounces 

 of the powder, called hiera picra, or a powder formed of 

 eight parts of aloes and two of canella alba, in five pints of 

 mountain wine ; or an ounce of aloes, with one drachm of 

 the lefler cardamom feeds, and the fame quantity of ginger, 

 in two pounds of the fame wine. Lewis. 



Dr. Buchan direfts this tinfture to be made by infufing 

 an ounce of focotorine aloes in powder, and two drachms 

 of Virginia fnake-root, and as much ginger, in a pint of 



mountain 



