ON  FLUID  EXTRACT  OF  GENTIAN. 
29 
to  be  derived  from  having  a  more  concentrated  fluid  preparation, 
permanent  and  yet  so  slightly  alcoholic  as  to  avoid  objection  on 
that  score,  the  following  formula  is  offered  : 
Take  of  Gentian,  in  course  powder,  sixteen  ounces  (Troy.) 
Water,  a  sufficient  quantity, 
French  brandy,  six  fluid  ounces, 
Macerate  the  gentian  in  two  and  a  half  pints  of  water  for  twelve 
hours,  and  having  introduced  it  into  a  suitable  percolator,  allow 
the  infusion  to  pass  slowly,  adding  water  at  intervals  until 
five  pints  of  liquid  have  passed.  Evaporate  this  to  ten  fluid 
ounces  by  means  of  a  water  bath,  add  the  brandy,  and  strain 
through  cotton  flannel. 
(The  process  may  be  varied  by  using  the  press,  in  lieu  of  the 
displacement  process,  macerating  in  three  several  quantities  of 
two  pints  each ;  and  four  ounces  rectified  alcohol  may  be  used  in 
lieu  of  the  brandy,  in  which  case  the  evaporation  should  be  stop- 
ped when  the  infusion  is  reduced  to  twelve  fluid  ounces.  When 
economy  is  not  to  be  consulted,  pure  French  brandy  is  to  be  pre- 
ferred.) 
Fluid  extract  of  gentian  has  a  thin  syrupy  consistence,  a  dark 
brown  color,  free  from  sediment  and  transparent  in  thin  strata. 
With  water  it  forms  a  clear  mixture,  and  may  be  given  in  doses 
of  half  a  teaspoonful  to  a  teaspoonful,  which  represent  half  a 
drachm  to  a  drachm  of  gentian  root. 
When  it  is  desirable  to  associate  aromatics,  they  may  be  add- 
ed in  the  form  of  tincture,  in  place  of  a  part  of  the  brandy,  or 
the  aromatics  in  substance  may  be  extracted  by  the  brandy  and 
the  tincture  thus  formed  added  to  the  evaporated  solution  of  gen- 
tian. As  this  fluid  extract  is  prepared  more  especially  to  facili- 
tate the  extemporaneous  prescribing  of  gentian,  I  have  preferred 
to  retain  its  simple  form,  to  offering  any  compound  including  aro- 
matics. If  it  should  be  desirable  to  use  the  association  of  ingre- 
dients found  in  the  officinal  compound  infusion,  a  perfect  repre- 
sentation of  it  in  a  concentrated  form  may  be  made  as  follows : — ■ 
Take  of  Gentian,  in  coarse  powder,  16  ounces. 
Bitter  Orange  peel,  in  coarse  powder,  4  ounces. 
Coriander  seeds,      <«      "         «  4  ounces* 
Water, 
Alcohol,  each  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Extract  the  gentian  with  water  in  the  manner  directed  for  the 
