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NEW  PROCESS  FOR  MAKING  FLUID  EXTRACTS. 
the  nature  of  the  drug  started  with  in  the  process.  The  next 
step  is  to  filter  out  all  or  a  great  part  that  is  valuable,  and  sell 
or  dispense  the  aqueous  solution  under  the  impression  that  it  is 
a  good  preparation.*  This  mode  of  proceeding  has  been  some- 
what improved  on  by  retaining  the  first  running  of  tincture,  to 
mix  with  an  aqueous  solution  obtained  by  continuing  the  dis- 
placing and  distilling  all  the  alcohol  off.  The  result  of  this  mix- 
ture, in  most  cases,  is  a  double  precipitation,  sometimes  followed 
by  a  partial  re-solution,  leaving  the  operator  in  a  quandary 
whether  to  filter  and  have  a  preparation  presenting  a  handsome 
appearance,  or  not  filter,  and  have  a  less  handsome  but  really 
better  one. 
In  casting  about  for  a  perfect  process  for  making  these  most 
desirable  preparations,  a  plan  was  adopted  and  pursued  for  a 
time,  of  making  all  extracts  into  the  pilular  consistence,  keeping 
memoranda  of  yield  in  percentage,  and  using  these  solid  extracts 
for  making  the  fluid  extracts  by  solution  in  menstrua  of  the 
proper  strength  for  holding  all  the  medical  virtues  in  solution, 
using  whatever  amount  of  extract  obtained  from  a  pound  of  crude 
drug  to  make  a  pound  of  fluid  extract.  This  plan  was  found  to 
make  a  good  fluid  extract,  and  to  have  some  advantages.  Using 
my  own  vacuum  extracts,  and  always  knowing  the  exact  strength 
of  the  same,  I  had  full  faith  that  I  had  as  good  fluid  extracts  as 
<*ould  be  made  by  any  other  known  process,  and  fully  reliable  as 
regards  amount  of  drug  represented  by  each  pound.  But  it 
involved  two  processes  for  one  preparation,  and  the  plan  was 
abandoned  in  favor  of  the  process  for  which  I  have  obtained  a 
patent.  This  process  I  believe  to  be  perfection  in  every  respect ; 
and  as  it  covers  pretty  broad  ground,  I  doubt  its  ever  being 
equalled  by  any  other  plan.  It  has  none  of  the  faults  that  had 
always  to  be  contended  with;  and  which  I  considered  insur- 
mountable until  this  discovery  was  made,  which  was  somewhat 
in  the  following  manner.  It  suggested  itself  in  thinking  of  the 
manufacture  of  linseed  oil,  in  which  violent  pressure  is  used. 
*  This  statement,  in  reference  to  the  value  of  the  precipitated  matter, 
conveys  a  false  impression,  as  it  could  be  true  of  only  a  limited  number 
of  substances.  If  it  was  the  author's  practice  in  all  cases  not  to  add  the 
necessary  proportion  of  alcohol,  his  preparations  must  have  suffered.  It 
certainly  was  not  the  usual  practice.— Ed.  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
