38 
AN ESSAY ON LACTUC ARIUM. 
not deceive ourselves, is partly volatilized during the ope- 
ration, although the greatest precautions have been taken 
to preserve it in the product. 
This remark is not applicable to the aqueous solution re- 
sulting from the instantaneous action of boiling distilled 
water on native lactucarium. It possesses in a high degree 
that poisonous smell, and the bitterness, that are such es- 
sential characteristics of this vegetable production. 
According to all these facts, it appears to me to be most 
advisable to reject the alcoholic extract proposed by M. 
Aubergier, and to confine ourselves to the direct treatment 
of lactucarium with boiling distilled water. 
This menstruum removes exactly 50 per cent, of the lac- 
tucarium; it would also be advisable to employ two grammes 
of this base, with 500 of syrup, for the purpose of 
agreeing as nearly as possible with the operations of our fel- 
low-labourer. Nevertheless, I should consider it still more 
rational to let the lactucarium enter into the composition at 
a multiple, that should corneas near as possible to the same 
proportions, as it does in the following formula; — 
Syrup of Lactucarium. 
Lactucarium in coarse powder, 1 gramme 70. 
Distilled water 30 grammes. 
Simple syrup 500 " 
Place the lactucarium over the fire, along with 15 gram- 
mes of water, until the liquid boils; pour it out and press 
out the liquor, complete the extraction of the matter with 
an equal quantity of boiling water, pour out this second so- 
lution, add the two products to the boiling syrup, and re- 
duce the whole to 500 grammes. 
By this process, as simple as it is easy, you realize in an 
instant, a product whose characters leave no doubt as to 
the excellence of the medicament. The bitter taste is more 
decided than in that of M. Aubergier, and the poisonous 
smell of lactucarium is recognised in all its force. 
Thirty grammes of this syrup are equal to 10 centigram- 
mes of the base, and 5 of the extract. This is a reasonable 
