Am  Jour.  Pharm. 
Oct.,  1889. 
L}    British  Pharmaceutical  Conference. 
535 
whole  of  this  constituent.  Commercial  samples  of  the  infusion  and  syrup 
also  gave  results  considerably  below  the  theoretical  quantity,  supposing  that 
they  were  made  from  average  quality  bark,  although  it  was  demonstrated  that 
a  much  nearer  approximation  could  be  obtained  by  following  the  U.S. P.  pro- 
cesses. A  similar  remark  applies  to  commercial  samples  of  the  tinctura  pruni 
virginianse  B.P.C.  The  author,  therefore,  drew  the  conclusions  that  prepare  - 
tions  of  wild  cherry  bark  do  not,  as  a  rule,  represent  the  full  value  of  the  drug, 
so  far  as  hydrocyanic  acid,  its  supposed  active  constituent,  is  concerned,  and 
that  this  might  be  caused  by  loss  of  acid  in  keeping  or  insufficient  care  in  pre- 
paration. 
Concentrated  Infusion  of  Gentian. — Mr.  Johnston  raised  the  old  vexed  question 
of  concentrated  infusions,  with  a  view  to  the  introduction  of  such  preparations 
in  the  next  edition  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia.  In  order  to  give  a  practical 
turn  to  the  discussion,  he  suggested  the  following  formula  for  a  concentrated 
infusion  of  gentian  : 
"  Take  of— 
Mix  the  orange  peel  and  gentian  root  with  the  spirit  and  cold  water,  and,  into  the 
mixture  contained  in  a  suitable  vessel,  such  as  a  wide-mouthed  jar  to  which  a  bung  can 
befitted,  grate  the  lemon  peel.  Macerate  for  seven  days,  stirring  occasionally:  strain 
through  a  press  bag  or  piece  of  calico,  and  press  out  the  rest  of  the  infusion.  Remac- 
erate  the  marc  with  about  twelve  ounces  of  boiling  distillpd  water  for  twelve  hours,  and 
again  press  Mix  the  liquid  obtained  with  the  previous  portions,  and  set  aside  tor  a 
few  days,  afterwards  filtering  and  making  up  with  distilled  water  to  a  pint  and  a 
half." 
In  respect  to  the  lemon  peel,  it  was  recommended  that  the  yellow  portion 
should  be  grated  from  previously  weighed  lemons  (about  six  will  be  required) 
directly  into  the  liquor,  and  as  much  of  the  spongy  peirt  as  may  contain  essen- 
tial oil  pared  off  and  added  also,  the  quantity  being  checked  by  noting  the  loss 
of  weight  in  the  lemons.  Such  a  preparation,  when  mixed  with  seven  parts 
of  distilled  water,  was  stated  to  yield  a  liquid  exactly  the  same  in  color,  aroma 
and  bitterness  as  the  freshly-made  B.P.  infusion.  Recognizing  the  possibility 
of  an  objection  that  the  formula  would  yield  a  weak  tincture  rather  than  an  in- 
fusion, Mr.  Johnston  thought  this  would  be  hypercritical,  and  suggested  that 
where  the  physician  wanted  to  avoid  even  this  quantity  of  alcohol  he  might 
order  "inf.  gent.  co.  recent."  It  was  admitted,  however,  tht>t  all  the  infusions 
might  not  be  so  easily  represented  by  concentrated  preparations. 
Tincture  of  Lemons, — As  a  sequence  to  the  previous  paper,  Mr.  Johnston  sent 
a  note  suggesting  a  modification  in  the  official  formulae  for  the  tincture  of  lemon 
and  tincture  of  fresh  orange  peel,  which  consisted  practically  in  adopting  the 
method  proposed  for  grating  the  peel. 
On  Official  One  per  cent.  Solutions. — In  a  paper  read  at  an  evening  meeting  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  in  Edinburgh  last  year,  Mr.  Macpherson  criticized 
the  formulae  given  in  the  British  Pharmacopoeia  for  what  are  known  as  the  1 
per  cent,  solutions,  on  the  ground  that  they  do  not  yield  preparations  in  accord- 
ance with  their  reputed  strength.   The  strychnine  solution  especially  was  sin- 
Bitter  orange  peel,  bruised. 
Gentian  root,  bruised  
Fresh  lemon  peel  
Rectified  spirit  
Cold  distilled  water  
Boiling  distilled  water ,  
6  ounces. 
7%  fluidounces 
15  ounces. 
A  sufficiency. 
