124 
ON  THE  PRESERVATION  OF  FLUID  EXTRACTS. 
but  when  they  are  opened  occasionally  and  the  quantity  of 
atmosphere  within  is  increased  and  renewed,  mould  may  be 
produced.  To  guard  against  it,  or  where  it  has  commenced,  to 
check  it,  I  have  successfully  used  sulphuric  ether,  which  in  a 
former  paper  I  have  recommended  for  the  destruction  of  in- 
sects. But  it  is  a  necessity  to  keep  the  ether  from  mixing  with 
the  medicinal  liquid,  and  this  may  be  accomplished  by  the 
simple  contrivance  of  fastening  or  glueing  a  small  piece  of 
sponge  to  the  lower  end  of  the  stopper,  and  dropping  a  few 
drops  of  ether  upon  it,  so  that  the  atmosphere  inside  the  bottles 
may  become  charged  with  its  vapors.  I  have  tried  it  with  pre- 
parations of  stillingia  and  krameria  and  found  it  successful, 
Recapitulating  the  points  treated  on,  I  have  endeavored  to 
prove  the  superiority  of  sugar  over  alcohol  as  the  preservative 
agent  for  fluid  extracts  for  the  following  reasons  : 
1.  Sugar  is  a  better  deoxidizing  agent  and  a  better  preventive 
of  oxidation  than  alcohol ; 
2.  If  used  in  sufficient  quantity,  it  will  be  a  sufficient  guard 
against  fermentation  ; 
3.  It  does  not,  like  alcohol,  add  stimulating  properties  to  large 
doses  of  fluid  extracts  ; 
4.  It  will  by  the  aid  of  a  very  small  proportion  of  alcohol  re- 
tain in  solution  principles,  which,  after  some  time,  are  precipita- 
ted from  diluted  and  stronger  alcohol  alone ; 
5.  It  masks  the  taste  of  bitter  and  nauseous  articles  better 
than  alcohol ; 
6.  By  the  addition  of  a  slight  quantity  of  alcohol,  when  neces- 
sary, the  tendency  to  fermentation  and  moulding  will  be  effec- 
tually counteracted ; 
7.  The  same  effect  will  be  produced  by  the  volatile  oils  which 
may  be  obtained  from  the  plants,  to  be  made  into  fluid  ex- 
tracts, or  other  oils  may  be  added,  that  will  also  serve  to  improve 
the  taste. 
Philadelphia,  Feb.  1859. 
[The  impartial  and  philosophical  manner  in  which  Mr.  Maisch  has  dis- 
cussed the  important  subject  of  which  he  treats,  particularly  important 
at  the  present  juncture  as  regrrds  the  Revision  of  the  Pharmacopoeia, 
should  gain  for  his  paper  the  earnest  attention  of  pharmaceutists,  and 
call  forth  the  results  of  their  experience. — Editor  Am.  Pharm.  Jour.] 
