ON THE GALENICAL PltOCESSES AND PREPARATIONS. 
471 
those ancient chemists and pharmaceutists were not only patient and labo¬ 
rious workmen, using with dexterity the means at their command, but that 
they were at the same time close, and often accurate, observers of the phe¬ 
nomena of nature? Modern science has fully established the difference 
which the ancient chemists assigned to heat derived from different sources ; 
and while the off-handed, superficial chemist may be ready to say that the 
distilled waters of pharmacy are mere solutions of very minute quantities of 
essential oils in water, and that any one of the several processes described in 
our Pharmacopoeias would be sufficient and suitable for their production, a 
more careful inquiry and a sounder philosophy may show that this is by no 
means a correct representation of the facts of the case. 
We may safely assert that the distilled waters, when properly prepared, 
are not merely solutions of essential oils in water, just as distilled vinegar is 
not merely diluted acetic acid, and as that most valuable of medicinal agents, 
sometimes called aqua vitce or eau de vie, is not merely diluted alcohol. In 
the production of the best Cognac brandy it is found necessary to use stills 
of a peculiar form, with low heads. In other cases we use stiils with high 
heads, or with ascending instead of descending beaks. By these and other 
means we are enabled to modify the qualities of the products of distillation, 
and in the selection and application of such and such-like means consists the 
art of pharmacy. If you are satisfied with British brandy as a substitute for 
the real Cognac, you may be satisfied with diluted acetic acid as a substitute 
for distilled vinegar, or with solutions of essential oils that have been kept 
exposed to the air, and partially oxidized, as substitutes for the best distilled 
waters. 
Cataplasmata .—These remain as they were in the London Pharmacopoeia, 
—the same in number, in name, and in composition, with only a slight alte¬ 
ration in one of them, namely, Cataplasma Conii, in which the dried leaves of 
hemlock are substituted for the extract. 
Cerata .—These are all omitted, or transferred to Unguenta under altered 
names. 
Confectiones .—The number of these is reduced, four old ones are omitted, 
two new ones are introduced, two, namely, Confectio Amygdalae and Confectio 
Scammonii, are altered in composition. In Confectio Piperis caraway is sub¬ 
stituted for elecampane and fennel, and the sugar is omitted. 
Decocta .—Considerable changes have been made in the decoctions. The 
number is reduced to just one-half of what it was,—namely, from twenty-six 
to thirteen, and only one new one has been introduced, namely, Decoctum 
Scoparii. The principal alterations in composition are in compound decoc¬ 
tion of aloes, in which the proportion of aloes is increased, while the liquorice, 
myrrh, saffron, and tincture of cardamons are diminished ; in decoction of 
bark, which is weaker than it was; in decoction of logwood, which now 
contains cinnamon; in decoction of poppies, which is increased in strength; 
and in decoction of dandelion, which is now made with dried root. Besides 
these alterations there are others of less importance, as, for instance, in de¬ 
coction of bark we are now directed, after boiling for ten minutes, “ to strain 
the decoction when cold.” Previously we were directed to strain while the 
decoction was hot, the effect of which was to give a product that on cooling 
threw down a copious precipitate, and dispensers were often in doubt as to 
whether this precipitate should be mixed with the liquid when used or not. 
Prom experiments made specially with reference to this question, I have 
found that although the precipitate contains quinine combined with astringent 
matter, yet the quantity of quinine present in the precipitate is so small, that 
it is not worth while, for the sake of its retention, to give a thick and muddy 
character to the decoction. I consider therefore that the new process is an 
