Du Mez—The Galenical Oleoresins . 
927 
An inspection of the above method brings out the fact that 
the decanted menstruum was directed to be clarified by the 
process of straining. Not only was a great deal of the solvent 
lost by evaporation in this procedure, but a very considerable 
amount remained adhering to the marc. While some of the 
latter was, in actual practice, removed by pressing the drug 
on the strainer with the hands, Mohr 1 ) in commenting on the 
method stated that, inasmuch as three-fourths of the ether were 
often lost in these operations, it was useless to recover the re¬ 
mainder by evaporation. To overcome this loss to some extent, 
he suggested making these preparations in the winter when the 
low temperature would be less favorable for the volatilization of 
the solvent. As ether, at this time and for many years later, 
was a comparatively expensive solvent, it will become apparent 
that a change in the method was to be desired. 
The first decided departure 2 from the above method of pro¬ 
cedure, which appears to have been given official recognition, is 
to be noticed in the Baden Pharmacopoeia of 1841. The method 
briefly stated is as follows: 
Mix the powdered male fern root with a sufficient quantity of ether to 
thoroughly moisten it. Then extract it in a Beal’sche Presse so connected 
with a receiving flask that none of the menstruum will be lost by evap¬ 
oration. 
A few years later, in 1846, there appeared a method in the 
Swedish Pharmacopoeia which likewise included the process of 
displacement, viz: 
Macerate the male fern root, cut in small pieces, with ether and extract 
in a displacement apparatus. 3 Then distill the ethereal solution to one- 
fourth of its volume and evaporate the remainder on a water bath to the 
consistence of a thin extract. 
Even with the use of a pressure percolator, so much ether 
was still lost through spontaneous evaporation and through ab- 
1 Mohr, Redwood and Procter’s Pharmacy (1849), p. 283. 
3 Geiger, in 1827, employed the ReaVsche Presse in the preparation of the 
Oleum Filicis Maris, our present oleoresin of aspidium. 
8 The apparatus employed for this purpose was most probably the Filtre- 
presse of Count Real or the Luft-presse of Dr. Romershausen, as both of 
these so-called presses were in general use at that time. In fact, both are 
mentioned in connection with the preparation of the extracta by the Prus¬ 
sian Pharmacopoeia as early as 1834. 
