OBSEllVATIONS ON THE DECOCTIONS OF THE PHAKMACOP(EIA. 32? 
three sections, with but one real deviation, it is quite clear that uniformity of 
measure and quantity has been especially attended to and cared for. 
But how is it with the decoctions ? Truly imperial measure is started with, 
but in the product the quantity is ever varying, and the time allowed for pre¬ 
paration equally so. For cetraria, pareira, sarsa, sarsa comp., and taraxacum, 
the quantity of a pint and a half is to be reduced to a pint, the time allowed for 
cetraria and the two sarsse is ten minutes in a covered vessel, for pareira and 
taraxacum fifteen minutes in a vessel either covered or open^ at the will of the 
pharmaceutist, as no direction is given either way. For hsematoxylum and 
cinchona a pint of twenty ounces is to be boiled for ten minutes, the product 
measuring sixteen ounces ; in the case of cinchona the vessel to be covered, in 
that of heeraatoxylum optional, the cinnamon being added towards the end of a 
ten minutes’ boiling. It might well be added as soon as the boiling commences, 
and it should certainly, with more reason than the cinchona, be evaporated in a 
covered vessel. Again, with papaver, three imperial pints are to be reduced to 
tliirty-tivo ounces^ an old measure quart, in ten minutes, whilst the same time is 
allowed in scoparium for reducing ten ounces to eight in a covered vessel. For 
quercus, thirty ounces or a pint and a half are to be boiled for ten minutes; for 
liordeum, the same quantity for twenty minutes in covered vessels, but no 
amount of product stated in either ; for granatum two pints are to be reduced 
to one, time and vessel being unheeded, in dec. aloes co. the ingredients for 
making sixteen ounces. Without being hypercritical, and though variety may 
in some matters be charming, it is impossible altogether to refrain from ob¬ 
serving that in the directions given for preparing the decoctions, and in the 
measure, there is a want of unity and consistency. If the imperial measure can 
be carried out thoroughly in the waters, infusions, and tinctures, there should 
be no difficulty. With the decoctions, I myself see none in arranging the quan¬ 
tities so that every decoction should measure either a pint of twenty ounces or a 
half-pint, when finished. It would be quite as easy to direct one ounce and a 
quarter of cinchona to be boiled with a pint and a quarter of water down to 
a pint, as in the existing form, one ounce in twenty ounces down to sixteen. 
With respect to the time allowed for the boiling, there must unavoidably be 
some little difference, and it need not be fixed ; it would to a great extent de¬ 
pend upon the quantity prepared, the size of the vessel, and the absorbing pro¬ 
perties of the ingredients used, and singularly enough none of them are ordered 
to be pressed. As to closed or open vessels, I cannot see why cetraria should be 
cooked in a covered vessel more than papaver, or hordeum than taraxacum. 
I feel that the arrangement might 'be considerably simplified, and I believe 
improved by directing in every case the proportion for the production of an 
imperial pint when finished, by employing sufficient water, in most cases a pint 
and a half would suffice, to be reduced by gentle boiling, in a partially covered 
vessel, to one pint; for cetraria, papaver, and sarsa comp., rather more water, 
say two pints, following the other general direction, but adding gentle pressure 
with the hand or a spoon whilst straining. 
By adopting this plan, there would be simplicity and uniformity in the 
arrangement and directions, and I am satisfied quite as good a preparation. 
The operator would of course make more or less than a pint, according to his 
requirements. I fancy I have made out a clear case, worthy the attention of 
the Pharmacopoeia editors ; and if need were, I think I can add yet another rea¬ 
son for a rearrangement of the decoction formulm. 
As a member of the Board of Examiners, it is frequently my duty to question 
the candidates as to their proficiency in pharmacy. Now, where there is a de¬ 
cidedly marked process to be carried out, and preparing the green vegetable ex¬ 
tracts, there is something to arrest the attention, and the pupil who has once or 
twice prepared any of them is not likely to forget the modus operandi ; but with 
