454 
THE PREPARATIONS OF CONIUM MACULATUM. 
degree, tlie reactions of the distillate from the marc of the tincture formerly 
described. It formed with iodine a colourless solution, and dissolved sulphur. 
When heated it became turbid and evolved the intensely acrid fumes of conia 
under the appearance of a white cloud. As the conia condensed again, it trickled 
in oily streaks down the sides of the tube. The presence of a little alcohol in 
the distillate doubtless rendered the conia soluble to this extent. 
It appears very conclusively from this experiment that the fruit operated 
upon, and used in the preparation of the tincture, possesed the full amount of 
conia. 
- Before proceeding with my investigations of the remaining preparations of 
conium of the British Pharmacopoeia, I have thought it desirable to ascertain 
the medicinal value of the tincture of the London Pharmacopoeia, for which the 
tincture of the fruit has been substituted in the British Pharmacopoeia. And 
this is the more necessary, since the dried leaf is still retained in the preparation 
of the poultice in our own Pharmacopoeia, and it is also largely used in some 
other Pharmacopoeias, particularly in that of France. 
I obtained two samples of the Tinctura Conii (P.L.) : Messrs. J. Bell and Co. 
kindly furnished me with one, w^hich I will call “Tincture No. 1 and Mr. 
Hemingway prepared for my use another, which I will designate “ Tincture No. 
2 .” As I had in view a series of comparative experiments, with the tincture of 
the fruit. No. 2, was prepared in December last by exhausting, after eight days 
maceration in the percolator, ^iiss of fine green, strongly smelling, dried leaf, 
(procured last June, and carefully preserved in a tin canister in a dry place), 
by the passage of f ^xx of proof spirit. Thus its strength in comparison with 
the tincture of the P. L. was as 19 to 20; the London process yielding only 
f^xix out of the fsxx of spirit employed. No. 1 was prepared soon after 
the leaves w^ere dried, and preserved from access of light. There was no appa¬ 
rent difference in the two preparations. Both possessed an acid reaction; a 
dark greenish-brown colour, a rank odour, and its corresponding flavour with a 
nauseous, bitterish taste. On admixture with water both became turbid from 
the separation of a green resinous (?) matter. This was deposited on standing, 
and the faint yellowish-brown supernatant fluid apparently underwent no further 
change. 
I began my experiments with Tincture No. 2 :— 
December 19, at 10’45 a.m., I took f 5 ii, mixed with a little water, and re¬ 
mained quiet all day. 
December 21, at 11T5 a.m., took f 5 iv, and remained quiet for five or six 
hours afterwards. 
December 22, at 10’45 a.m., I took f 5 vj, and was afterwards and during the 
rest of the day actively engaged. Walked about five miles. 
December 24, at 11 a.m., took f ^j, and sat still conversing with patients for 
the hour following, and was afterwards actively engaged until midnight, when I 
retired to bed free from headache or fatigue. Next day I did not take the 
tincture. 
December 26, awoke with a headache, and felt weak and poorly from broken 
rest, and a sharp attack of diarrhoea during the early morning. At noon I took 
f 5 x of the tincture, and immediately walked out a distance of three miles. No 
effects followed, neither was there any increase of the headache or sense of de¬ 
bility. 
December 28, at 10-45, took 5 xiij of the tincture, and from half an hour to an 
hour and half afterwards experienced a slight stimulant effect. 
I now began to use Tincture No. 1. 
December 29, at 10-30 a.m., I took f 5 V. 
December 30, at 10-30 a.m., f 5 vij, and sat quiet for an hour and half after¬ 
wards. 
