Am.  Jour.  Pharjn.  1 
March,  1897.  j 
Fluid  Extracts. 
153 
exhaustion,  and  some  loss  in  handling  the  drug  by  the  ordinary 
method  was  avoided  ;  it  also  admitted  of  expression  being  employed 
without  loss  of  material. 
The  following  results  were  obtained  : 
Per  Cent. 
Moisture   8*48  • 
Ash     .  .   4*92 
Petroleum  ether  extract,  containing  volatile  oil  o-84,  fixed  oil 
and  fat  0-41,  wax  melting  at  6i°  C.  061,  and  caoutchouc 
0-26  '  2"I2 
Ether  extract,  consisting  of  resins                                           .  4*25 
Absolute  alcohol  extract,  containing  resins,  glucosidal  bitter 
principle,  etc   3*32 
Water  extract,  composed  of  mucilage  3*22,  glucose  0*52,  ex- 
tractive 4*90     8*63 
Alkali  extract,  containing  pectin  274,  extractive  3*36   6'io 
Acid  extract  ,   1/14 
Ivignin   6*44 
Cellulose   54'6o 
The  ash  was  composed  of  calcium,  potassium,  manganese  and 
iron,  combined  with  hydrochloric,  sulphuric,  phosphoric  and  car- 
bonic acids. 
The  alcohol  extract  yielded  a  bitter  principle  by  treating  with 
acidulated  water  and  agitating  this  solution  with  ether  or  chloroform, 
which  removed  the  principle  and  deposited  it,  on  evaporation,  in 
an  amorphous  condition. 
Tannin  and  starch  were  not  found  in  the  drug. 
FLUID  EXTRACTS. 
By  Wiujam  B.  Thompson. 
Reasonable  and  well-tempered  discussion  on  subjects  in  contro- 
versy ought  to  be  improving  to  knowledge.  The  natural  tendency 
of  such  would  be  to  turn  thought  into  new  channels,  or  to  broaden 
its  scope  in  directions  already  pursued.  Events  which,  at  times, 
seem  adverse  and  disappointing,  may  often  be  turned  into  fortune- 
ate  advantage.  The  use  and  mis-use  of  fluid  extracts  in  extempor- 
izing the  preparation  of  the  lesser  galenicals,  as  tinctures,  wines, 
syrups  and  infusions,  has  evoked  the  expression  of  some  opinions 
and  is  likely  to  arouse  more.    It  would  seem  to  be  within  the  con- 
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