EDITORIAL. 
389 
diluted  alcohol,  &c,  and  attributes  it  to  the  London  Pharm.,  when  that 
authority  directs  water  as  the  menstruum.  And  of  this  alcoholic  extract 
he  says  the  dose  is  from  5  to  30  grains,  whilst  at  the  article  Colocynth,  at 
page  357,  he  says  the  dose  of  that  substance  or  its  aqueous  extract  is  from 
4  to  10  grains,  and  of  the  alcoholic  extract  1  to  4  grains  !  Among  the  ex- 
tracts described  there  are  many  from  plants  rarely  used,  except  by  the 
Eclectics,  as  Baptisia,  Caulophyllum,  Cypripedium,  Hydrastis,  Leptandra, 
Phytolacca,  Ptelea,  Scutellaria,  &c,  which  are  all  hydroalcoholic. 
The  general  directions  for  preparing  fluid  extracts  are  written  by  William 
S.  Merrill,  and  are  as  follows,  viz  :  For  each  pound  of  the  substance  or 
ingredients  to  be  treated,  four  pints  of  alcohol,  76  per  cent.,  four  ounces  of 
sugar  and  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water  are  taken.  The  substance  suita- 
bly comrnunited  is  digested  in  part  of  the  alcohol  for  24  hours  at  a  gentle 
heat,  then  displaced  with  the  rest  of  the  alcohol,  reserving  four  fluid 
ounces  of  the  strongest  liquid  and  evaporating  the  remainder  of  the  tinc- 
ture to  four  fluid  ounces.  The  dregs  in  the  displacer  are  then  exhausted 
with  hot  water,  the  infusion  evaporated  to  8  fluid  ounces,  the  sugar  dis- 
solved in  this,  and  after  again  evaporating  to  half  a  pint,  the  syrupy  liquid 
is  mixed  with  the  reserved  tinctures. 
This  is  a  good  general  direction  for  ordinary  operations.    Among  the 
peculiar  fluid  extracts  is  the  following  by  Mr.  Merrill  of  Cincinnati. 
"  Extractum  Rhei  et  Potassje  Fluidum.  Fluid  Neutralizing  Extract. 
Preparation.  Take  of  India  Rhubarb  and  Bicarbonate  of  Potassa,  of  each  two 
pounds  Av. ;  Cinnamon  and  Golden  Seal,  [Hydrastis]  of  each  one  pound;  Good 
French  Brandy,  one  gallon  ;  Oil  of  Peppermint,  one  fluidrachm  ;  Refined  Sugar, 
three  pounds.  Water  a  sufficient  quantity.  Grind  or  coarsely  bruise  the 
Rhubarb,  Cassia  and  Golden  Seal  and  mix  them,  macerate  for  24  hours  or 
longer  in  the  brandy,  express  the  tincture  with  strong  pressure,  and  add  to  it 
the  oil  of  peppermint  dissolved  in  a  little  alcohol.  Break  up  the  residue  from 
the  press,  place  it  in  a  percolator  and  gradually  add  warm  water  until  the 
strength  of  the  articles  is  exhausted.  Evaporate  this  solution  to  four  pints, 
and  while  the  liquor  is  still  hot  dissolve  in  it  the  Bicarbonate  of  Potassa  and 
Refined  Sugar,  and  continue  the  evaporation,  if  necessary,  until,  when  added  to 
the  tincture  first  obtained,  it  will  make  one  gallon  and  a  half  of  fluid  extract." 
This  preparation  is  used  as  an  aperient  antacid,  like  the  compound  pow- 
der of  rhubarb.  The  preparations  of  iron  are  mostly  described,  and  among 
them  Dr.  Sanders'  Ferri  et  Salicinece  tartras  and  Ferri  et  Morphiae  tartras 
— two  very  indefinite  compounds — will  be  found.  Under  the  head  "  Lac- 
tinated  Preparations,"  there  is  a  class  of  powders  consisting  of  active 
medicines  diluted  with  lactin.  Under  the  several  heads  of  Linimenta, 
Liquores,  Lotiones  and  Mistura,  numerous  Eclectic  preparations  are  brought 
forward,  many  of  them  well  adapted  for  the  purposes  intended,  and 
eligibly  compounded,  and  some  very  peculiar ;  among  these  we  may  enu- 
merate the  following  ; 
"Linimentum  Caoutchouci.  Caoutchouc  Liniment.  Preparation. — Take 
of  Caoutchouc,  in  fine  pieces,  a  convenient  quantity,  Oil  of  Origanum,  a 
sufficient  quantity.  Dissolve  the  caoutchouc  in  the  oil.  Paper  saturated 
with  this  liniment  is  applied  as  a  stimulant. 
