Am.  Jour.  Pharra.\ 
March,  1889.  J 
American  Tinctura  Quillajce. 
141 
and  then  precipitating  it  with  alcohol.  It  would  be  an  advantage  to 
avoid  this  stage  altogether,  and  this  could  be  done  by  simplifying  the 
formula,  as  follows  : — 
Quillaja  bark,  in  fine  chips   8  troy  ounces. 
Alcohol   1  pint. 
Water   enough  to  make  3  pints. 
Mix  the  alcohol  and  water  j  pack  the  bark  in  a  percolator  ;  moisten 
with  1  pint  of  menstruum ;  allow  to  stand  twelve  hours  and  then  per- 
colate with  the  remainder,  adding  water  until  the  percolate  measures 
3  pints.    Filter  if  necessary. 
Mr.  Boa,  in  the  paper  to  which  I  have  referred,  showed  that  such  a 
process  is  efficient,  and  that  quillaja  bark  can  be  completely  exhausted 
by  percolation  with  proof  spirit.  The  American  menstruum  is  de- 
ficient in  alcohol,  as  is  shown  by  the  tinctures  now  exhibited,  which 
are  beginning  to  throw  down  a  deposit.  Mr.  Boa  also  showed  that  a 
menstruum  containing  less  alcohol  than  the  proof  spirit  of  the  British 
Pharmacopoeia  gave  a  tincture  which  deposited  on  standing.  I  would 
therefore  suggest  that  the  menstruum  in  the  American  formula  should 
be  increased  in  alcoholic  strength  to  49  per  cent,  by  weight. 
With  regard  to  the  degree  of  disintegration  of  the  bark  I  think  the 
American  standard  of  fine  chips  is  much  better  than  the  No.  20  powder 
of  the  B.P.C.  formula.  Quillaia  bark  is  exceedingly  difficult  to  re- 
duce to  fine  powder,  both,  on  account  of  its  toughness  and  its  very 
irritating  effect  on  the  nasal  mucous  membrane,  as  all  those  can  testify 
who  have  had  to  deal  with  it.  So  fine  a  state  of  division  is,  moreover, 
quite  unnecessary,  and  never,  so  far  as  I  have  seen,  adopted  in  prac- 
tice. I  would  therefore  suggest  that  the  formula  of  the  B.P.C.  unoffi- 
cial formulaly  should  be  altered  in  this  respect,  and  fine  chips  substituted 
for  No.  20  powder.  As  an  ordinary  emulsifying  and  therapeutic  agent 
it  would  also,  I  think,  be  an  advantage  to  have  in  the  B.P.C.  form- 
ulary a  tincture  made  with  dilute  alcohol,  in  addition  to  the  present 
tincture  made  with  rectified  spirit,  which  is  required  only  for  a  special 
purpose. 
Effect  of  coffee  on  the  Urine. — Dr.  Duniont's  observations  prove 
that  after  the  use  of  coffee  the  amount  of  urea  contained  in  the  urine  is  in- 
creased, and  that  it  decreases  again  to  the  previous  amount  as  soon  as  the 
coffee  is  omitted. — Lancet. 
