1022 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters. 
be collected was reduced from approximately 2 cubic centi¬ 
meters for each gram of drug used (24 fluid ounces for 12 troy 
ounces of drug) to 1.5 cubic centimeters. In the succeeding 
edition of the Pharmacopoeia (edition of 1890), the second 
change was made, the directions being to continue percolation 
until the drug is exhausted. The third change occurs in the 
Pharmacopoeia of 1900, which directs that 1.6 cubic centi¬ 
meters of percolate be collected for each gram of drug taken. 
The reason for making the second change does not become 
apparent from the information at hand. The third change, 
however, appears to have been instituted primarily for the 
purpose of reducing the amount of solid fats (mainly pal- 
mitin and stearin) extracted in order that the separation of 
the liquid portion constituting the oleoresin might be ac¬ 
complished more easily. 
In commenting further upon these changes, it is stated that, 
in the preparation of the oleoresin in the laboratory, no 
greater difficulty was experienced in the separation of the 
liquid portion when the amount of sold fats present was large 
than when the quantity present was relatively small. From 
this standpoint, therefore, the last change does not appear to 
have been warranted. For economic reasons, however, the 
change was desirable since at least twice as much ether was 
required for the complete exhaustion of the drug as is ordin¬ 
arily used when proceeding according to the directions given 
in the last edition of the Pharmacopoeia. 
It is thought that the present pharmacopceial method could 
be still further improved through the use of some form of con¬ 
tinuous extraction apparatus for exhausting the drug. Not 
only would this procedure result in the saving of a large 
amount of solvent, but the time required to complete the 
preparation of the oleoresin would be considerably shortened. 
6) The Pharmacopoeia of 1860 directed that only % of the 
menstruum contained in the percolate be recovered by distil¬ 
lation on a water bath. In all of the subsequent editions the 
directions are to recover the greater part of the solvent, no 
specific amount being mentioned. In this connection, it may 
be stated that the preparation will not be injured even if all 
of the solvent is recovered under the above conditions. In 
case this is done, however, it is necessary to use ether in re- 
