ON  TINCTURA  OPII. 
407 
adopted  a  somewhat  different  process,  the  formula  of  which  I 
give  below  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  wish  to  try  it.  I  have 
always  found  it,  when  carefully  worked,  to  thoroughly  exhaust  th 
opium  and  to  yield  an  efficient  and  reliable  product,  equal? 
I  think,  in  every  respect  to  that  of  the  U.  S.  P.,  and  it  possesses 
the  merit  of  greatly  abbreviating  the  time  required  for  its  fulfill- 
ment, which  is  important  in  all  of  the  operations  of  the  labora- 
tory, especially  when  it  can  be  accomplished  without,  in  any  par- 
ticular, vitiating  or  impairing  the  quality  of  the  product. 
B  Pulv.  opii,  No.  50,       ^iiss,  troy. 
Hot  water,  temp.  200°, 
Alcohol,  aa  one  pint. 
Diluted  alcohol,  q.  s. 
Macerate  the  powdered  opium  in  a  covered  vessel,  with  fre- 
quent stirring,  until  the  mixture  cools ;  then  transfer  it  to  a 
stoppered  bottle  and  continue  the  maceration  for  twelve  hours, 
with  occasional  agitation ;  then  strain  the  infusion  through 
muslin  with  strong  expression.  Macerate  the  residuum  with  the 
alcohol  in  a  stoppered  bottle  for  twelve  hours,  shaking  frequently, 
then  strain  and  express.  Mix  the  infusions,  and  upon  the  dregs 
carefully  packed  in  a  small  cylindrical  glass  percolator  gradually 
pour  the  mixture,  and  when  it  has  all  passed  from  the  surface, 
continue  the  percolation  with  diluted  alcohol  until  two  pints  of 
tincture  are  obtained. 
It  will  be  found  advantageous  to  rub  the  dregs  through  a 
sieve  of  about  eighteen  meshes  to  the  inch,  preparatory  to  pack- 
ing in  the  percolator,  as  it  reduces  them  to  a  good  condition  for 
packing. 
Digestion  at  a  temperature  of  100  or  120°  F.  may  be  substi- 
tuted for  maceration  if  deemed  advisable,  although  I  have  never 
found  that  necessary. 
The  advantages  gained  by  the  maceration  of  the  opium  in  the 
85  per  cent,  alcohol  in  the  above  process,  is  the  solution  and  remo- 
val of  the  greater  portion,  if  not  all,  of  the  caoutchouc-like  sub- 
tance  and  other  principles  which  impede  and  render  the  percolation 
of  opium  so  difficult  and  unsatisfactory.  After  the  opium  has  been 
macerated  in  the  alcohol  and  expressed,  the  dregs  will  be  found 
