126 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
Wait—twelve months—and it will yield up its odour—then, and not till then 
is its distillation finished. Let me direct attention to the following—In these- 
distillates, and the same holds good respecting most, the main ingredient is in 
the water, forms part of it, nor can it be separated save by a destructive pro¬ 
cess. We have not Elder or Rose, mixed with water ; nor have we water asso¬ 
ciated with Elder or Rose : but Aqua Sambuci and Aqua Rosse. 
Here we draw the line between the products of high Pharmacy and those of 
any other mode of preparation (suggested originally by convenience), whether 
authorized or otherwise. Au essential Oil or essence, so admirably commingled 
as that no globule can be discovered by the microscope is but a mixture. It is 
an oil and water, or water incorporated with an oil. The difference may be 
thus expressed. In distillates, time, is in favour of development; in mixtures, 
time has a tendency towards separation, decomposition, and deterioration. 
Climate also is a terrible analyst. Heat, and a voyage out have been known to 
reduce the compound furnished into the elements of which it was composed. 
Enfleurage, a supposed modern art, but described by Alexis, date 1568, p. 46, 
well illustrates the point. Flower buds are sprinkled over layers of fat, (oii- 
ginally bruised almonds) contained in shallow frames. Maceration is effected 
so that the perfume of the flower is thoroughly extracted. No mechanical 
means of mixing essences with a fatty base can equal this process, which simple 
as it may be requires the advantage of soil and climate, and careful manipula¬ 
tion. The attempt to rival the exports of Cannes, Grasse or Nice by mecha¬ 
nical dexterity is hopeless. The druggist’s imitation is a thing bearing a label, 
the french Pomade is a distillate. 
Another subject claims attention for a moment. 
The Nychthemerum (maceration). 
The Prussian Pharmacopoeia, published at Berlin, may safely be recom¬ 
mended to any English Pharmacist desirous of being acquainted with practical 
German Pharmacy. “ The Universal,” edited by J. Rennie, date 1833, is very 
scarce; there is however a french edition (Dr. Jourdan) which may readily be 
obtained through the usual channels. Both have of necessity the defect of be¬ 
wildering by the mass of formulas presented, hence while they are aids to the 
advanced student they are comparatively of little value to the learner. On the 
other hand, the Prussian Pharmacopoeia contains alone, authorized. German 
recipes and it is rendered still more useful by its triple index, the first including 
Nomina antiqua compared with Nomina nunc usitata; the second a list of 
Names and Synonyms of Remedies: the third a full catalogue of popular 
German names. The advantage of this last index cannot be overestimated. 
Finally the book is a specimen of pure latinity. 
In the description of Spirituous Distillates will be found the expressive term 
nychthemerum. Its derivation is obvious, vv£ and rjpepa: being the same com¬ 
pound expression as the Decameron of Boccaccio and it is to be regretted that 
the Latin construction forbade the use of the same termination. An illustra¬ 
tion of its meaning will be found in an essentially German preparation : lienee 
quoted. The old Spiritus theriacalis. 
Sp. Angelica compositus 
P> Radicis Angelica libram unam 
,, Valerianse minoris, 
Baccarum Juniperi, singularum uncias tres. 
Concisis, contusis et in vesicam destillatoriam immissis adde 
Sp. Yini rectificati libras sex, 
Aquae communis quantum satis. 
