128 
BRITISH PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
spelling) Damask Rose, Lavender, Cloves, Cinnamon, Mace, Cardamom, Musk, 
Ambergris, Amber, 01 of Citron, Benzoin, Storax, Rosemary, Jessamin, Mar¬ 
i' oram, Sage, Thyme, Nutmeg, Malmsey Wine, Spike Lavender, Honeysuckle, 
Sandal, Myrtle, water of Orange, Lemon and Citron flowers (all confusedly 
together which the french call eau de naphe) sweet Almonds, Coriander, Cassia, 
imported trade essences and oils. Add Rose Water, Lavender Water, the 
water of the herb that the Italians call Soldanella, Spike water, and other 
Spirits, Essences or waters found in books on Pharmacy dating before the 
nineteenth century. The which put in a convenient vessell leaving it so by the 
space of fifteen days. Afterwards let it be distilled in Balneo Marie, the 
manner whereof is described in the first book, and the water that shall rise out 
of it, put in a phial well stopped, in the sun, the space of fifteen days, and then 
you shall have a water of great excellence. 
The Secret of Alexis is the secret of manufacturing Pharmacy : deduct from 
this and similar descriptions, the crude directions of the period and adapt them 
to modern usage 5 add experience and average manufacturing skill and there 
will be no need of purchasing expensive formulae. It would be idle to conceal 
that which so many know, that the fifteen days maceration here described is 
largely exceeded in case of distillates of world-wide reputation. This paper 
cannot properly be concluded without a notice of an excentric distillate which 
appears subject to no rule. 
The present French Codex (date 1866) has a chapter on the products of De¬ 
structive Distillation, (Produits Pyrogenes. Chapitre xxii.) seven of which are 
enumerated. _ 
1. Empyreumatic Carbonate of Ammonia or Volatile Salt of Hartshorn. 
(Carbonas Ammonise Oleosus.) 2. Volatile Spirit of Hartshorn (Spiritus Vo- 
latilis Cornu Cervi). 3. Volatile oil of Hartshorn (Oleum pyrogenseum Cornu 
Cervi.) 
The remaining four are Succinic products, and as the Amber preparations 
are extensively used in France, and their manufacture is larger in England than 
might be supposed, it may not be idle to offer a few particulars respecting the 
behaviour of reactions accompanying the distillation of Oleum Succini Verum. 
The matter will be best illustrated by translating the instructions of the 
Codex. 
I. 
Impure Succinic Acid. Volatile Salt of Amber. Acidum Succinicum pyrogenamm. 
Put the Amber into an earthenware or luted glass retort, adapt an arm-piece and a glass 
receiver. Apply a gentle heat. The Amber will melt, swell up, and thick abundant 
vapours will be disengaged. At the same time a certain quantity of Succinic Acid im¬ 
pregnated with water and an oily matter will be condensed in the armpiece and re¬ 
ceiver. Remove this Succinic Acid with a feather, before it is moistened and dragged 
over by too large a quantity of oil. Continue the process, and regulate the heat as long 
as crystals of Succinic Acid are produced. Change the receiver when no more appear, 
and apply stronger heat; the mass will cease to swell up ( boursoufler ) the distillation 
will be rapidly effected, and a particular Volatile oil will be collected. Proceed in the 
same manner until no further action takes place. The first product obtained is impure 
Succinic Acid ; in this state it was called formerly Volatile Salt of Amber. 
II. 
Volatile Spirit of Amber. Spiritus volatilis Succini. 
Take the liquid product of the foregoing distillation, composed of two layers—the one 
oily, which floats on the top—the other watery ^separate by decantation. The watery 
liquid contains the Volatile Spirit of Amber, which is a dilute solution of Succinic and 
Acetic Acids and pyrogenous oil. 
III. 
Volatile Oil of Amber. Oleum Succini pyrogenseum. 
