352 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
in the first place, four ounces and a half of dry extract equally astringent, and 
by subsequent boiling of the marc 480 grains of an equally tasteless extract. 
It is clear, then, that in this experiment I obtained one ounce more useful extract 
from the Savanilla than the Peruvian, passing over the inert productions. I 
may mention that the Pharmacopoeia directs the aqueous solutions to be eva¬ 
porated to a proper consistence. As this extract, like that of logwood, is an 
exception to the general condition of extracts, it might have been as well to 
have written evaporate to dryness, as that is the condition in which these two 
extracts are usually found in commerce ; unless the extract of rhatany be eva¬ 
porated to dryness it is likely to become mouldy. These extracts are soluble in 
cold water in pretty much the same proportion as it took water to extract them 
originally, namely, sixty grains in a pint, leaving only a small portion undis¬ 
solved ; they are also dissolved by rectified spirit. 
In order to satisfy myself more fully as to the relative amount of extractive 
obtained from the two, I prepared a pint of tincture from each, using the same 
proportions and subjecting them in every way to the same treatment. The 
specific gravity of the tincture prepared from the Peruvian was -932, that from 
the Savanilla '933 ; a fluid ounce of the former evaporated to dryness by 
water-bath gave fourteen grains of extract, while the same quantity of the 
latter yielded fifteen grains of dry extract; the difference is small, but still it 
evidences in favour of the Savanilla. To the casual observer the two tinctures 
might pass for one and the same ; but if observed carefully, the red of the Peru¬ 
vian appears rather the deeper of the two. The proof spirit in the tinctures 
extracted nearly twice the amount of soluble matter that the water did ; that is 
due to the fact that the spirit took up more of the colouring matter than the 
water. It yet remains, 1 think, to be proved that either contains more than 
the other of the astringent principle upon which its virtue as a remedy depends; 
but from the taste of the extract and tincture, and all the other circumstances, 
I can only come to the conclusion that the Savanilla is quite equal to the Peru¬ 
vian, and might in case of scarcity very well supply its place. Therefore I also 
feel that it would have been well if both kinds had been indicated in the Ma¬ 
teria Medica of the British Pharmacopoeia, the same compliment being paid 
them as the catechus ; and I may, I think, safely add that my experiments-point 
to the efficiency of the Pharmacopoeia process. 
There is only one more circumstance which may perhaps be worth mention¬ 
ing,—I allude to the possibility of the rhatany extract being contaminated with 
the cheaper one of logwood. The bichromate of potash might here prove ser¬ 
viceable as a detective ; but I simply mention this as a hint, it not forming any 
portion of my object in the present remarks. 
IV .—Extractum Lupiili. 
There is, I believe, sufficient in the extract of hop to make it worthy of being 
brought before your notice, under the impression that every one cannot have 
had the opportunity of making all the extracts of the British Pharmacopoeia. 
The Colleges of London and Edinburgh ordered this extract to be prepared by 
boiling the dried catkins with distilled water, expressing and evaporating, etc. 
The l)ublin did not recognise the preparation at all; and, I believe, although 
frequently prescribed, it has not generally been looked upon as a reliable one. 
In the British Pharmacopoeia the manner of preparing it has been changed, and 
apparently wijh advantage. I must, at the risk of being tedious, read over the 
form, in order to make myself quite intelligible. 
“Take of hop one pound, rectified spirit one pint and a half, distilled 
water one gallon. Macerate the hop in the spirit for seven days, press out the 
tincture, filter and distil off the spirit, leaving a soft extract. Boil the residual 
hop with the water for one hour, then express the liquor, strain and evaporate 
