406 
ON  TINCTURA  OPII. 
recommended  as  a  medicine  by  Duroy.  Eager  regards  it  as  the 
mildest  preparation  of  iodine,  and  states  that  about  5  parts  of 
iodine,  in  this  combination,  must  be  given,  to  have  the  effect  of 
1  part  of  iodine  in  substance.  He  took  milk  containing  -25 
grammes  iodine  at  one  dose,  without  any  unpleasant  effects.  The 
iodated  milk  may  be  preserved  for  over  a  week  without  spoiling  ; 
the  cream  separates,  but  is  readily  mixed  by  agitation.  The 
following  formula  is  proposed :  Best  cow's  milk,  90  grammes,  is 
warmed  slightly  in  a  glass  or  porcelain  vessel ;  a  solution  of  1 
grm.  iodine  in  10  grm.  alcohol  is  then  gradually  added  and 
mixed  with  agitation  until  the  white  color  of  milk  reappears. 
A  small  dessert-spoonful  contains  about  5  centigrm.  iodine. — 
Ihid.,  235,  236,  from  Ihid, 
Extractum  Ergotce,  for  subcutaneous  injections,  is,  according 
to  Langenbeck,  made  as  follows :  Extr.  ergotse,  2*5  p. ;  alcohol., 
90  sp.  gr.,  glycerin,  of  each,  7*5  p. — Ihid.,  234,  from  Apoth, 
Zeitung,  1869,  50. 
ON  TINCTURA  OPII. 
By  J.  B.  Moore. 
The  directions  of  the  U.  S.  P.  for  the  preparation  of  this 
tincture  are  as  follows  : 
"  Macerate  the  opium  with  the  water  for  three  days,  with  fre- 
quent agitation  ;  then  add  the  alcohol  and  continue  the  macera- 
tion for  three  days  longer.  Introduce  the  mixture  into  a  perco- 
lator, and,  when  the  liquid  has  ceased  to  pass,  pour  diluted  alco- 
hol upon  it  until  two  pints  of  tincture  are  obtained.''  To  com- 
plete this  process  requires  about  a  week,  and  to  secure  the  full 
benefit  of  the  maceration,  it  is  essential  that  the  directions  to 
agitate  frequently  be  complied  with,  especially  as  the  opium  is 
in  powder,  which  is  troublesome  during  so  long  a  period,  and 
which,  unless  in  very  careful  hands,  is  likely  to  be  partially  if 
not  entirely  neglected. 
I  have  for  some  time  been  in  the  habit  of  departing  from  the 
officinal  directions  in  the  preparation  of  this  tincture,  having 
