246 
ON A NEW PREPARATION OF LUPULINE. 
ascribed, in part at least, to the use of percolation in one case and maceration 
in another. But as regards this point, which requires some elucidation, I 
hope to enter into more detail at another time, and merely throw it out as a 
suggestion at present. 
Still, such a method of distinguishing these three tinctures recommends it¬ 
self by its simplicity and readiness of application, and serves our purpose far 
more effectually than the copious table of tests recorded in G uibourt’s work. 
ON A NEW PREPARATION OF LUPULINE. 
BY DYCE DUCKWORTH, M.D. 
MEDICAL TUTOR, ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S HOSPITAL. 
It is certainly remarkable that this drug has not found a place in the new 
Pharmacopceia of this country. It may, however, be said that it is not alto¬ 
gether ignored, inasmuch as it is expected to be present in the hops as ordi¬ 
narily employed. It is not too much to assert, that the amount of it in 
different samples varies considerably, and it is certain that this peculiar 
powdery matter represents the active principles of the entire strobili in a con¬ 
centrated form. 
It seems always desirable to possess the most powerful and concentrated 
preparations of the vegetable Materia Medica, and, as no available active 
principle has as yet been separated from the hop, it should, in the meantime, 
toe the endeavour of the pharmaceutist to obtain, and the physician to employ 
the drug in its most complete and essential form. Hence I conceive that at 
least one preparation of lupuline should be in use. The powder itself is 
inconvenient,—from seven to twelve grains are requisite for a dose, and 
it must be given in the form of pill. In this way, too, an amount of lignin 
and other inert principles are ingested, which it is not desirable to dlnploy, 
and which, in certain cases of gastric disease, would be positively harmful. 
This substance appears to be most fully appreciated in the United States 
of America. In the authorized codex of that country I find there are no 
fewer than three preparations of it, viz. a tincture, prepared with rectified 
spirit; a liquid extract (corresponding in strength to those of the Ph. Brit., 
viz. part for part); and an oleo-resin. The French codex takes no notice of 
it. In the Edinburgh Pharmacopceia there was a tincture made with rectified 
spirit, and lupuline was officinal in the Dublin Pharmacopoeia. 
During a recent series of pharmaceutical experiments with the powder, I 
was constantly struck with the remarkable valerian-like odour evolved from 
the different preparations, and I was much interested to find, in the course of 
subsequent reading on the subject, that M. Personne had discovered vale¬ 
rianic acid in lupuline. (Comptes Rendus, 1854.) 
In none of the British Pharmacopoeia preparations of hop, except the ex¬ 
tract, can it be said that the real strength of the drug is removed. The tinc¬ 
ture made with proof spirit, which does not thoroughly exhaust the active 
parts of the scales of lupuline, and the watery infusion can but inadequately 
represent the virtues of this medicine. 
The extract of hops, as prepared partly with spirit, like the extract of jalap, 
has the advantage of containing some resin and volatile oil. It is the pre¬ 
sence in so considerable an amount of resin, gum, and wax in lupuline that 
renders it important to select a proper solvent, and, therefore, proof spirit and 
water respectively are incapable of acting thoroughly upon it. We may in¬ 
deed practically regard lupuline as a gum-resin, and to treat it pharmaceuti- 
