116 
ON ALCOHOLIC TINCTURES. 
The first four of these extracts are extremely resinous, 
*he three last only so in a trifling degree. 
As the active principle of this substance is solely due to 
a resinous matter, insoluble in water, I have not changed 
the strength of the alcohol recommended in the Codex. In 
fact, I am convinced that in dissolving the extracts obtained, 
those prepared by strong alcohol were extremely resinous, 
while, on the contrary, those prepared by weak alcohol 
were much less so. I, therefore, recommend alcohol at 80°, 
giving a preference to the proportion of five parts of this 
solvent, being that which takes up the greatest quantities 
of the soluble parts of the root. 
27. Ginger. 
grs. 
1 pt. 15 gr. by 60 gr. or 4 pts. alco. at 80° total ext. 0-54 
" 60 " 4 " 56 " 1-52 
" 75 " 5 " id. " 1-75 
" 75 " 5 " 45 " 2-01 
" 90 " 6 " id. " 1-80 
This root owes its effects to a soft resin : on that account 
the Codex has directed the use of alcohol at 80° for this 
tincture. But if, on the one hand, we consider the enor- 
mous difference between the quantity of matter dissolved 
by alcohol of that strength, and alcohol at 56°, and, on the 
other hand, that this resinous matter may be perfectly re- 
moved by means of the extractive matter, alcohol at 56°, 
and 5 pts. of this solvent will be employed according to my 
plan, and this is the proportion also that takes up the great- 
est quantity of the soluble matter. 
28. Cinnamon. 
grs. 
1 pt. 15 gr. by 60 gr. or 4 pts. alco. at 80° total ext. 2.61 
75 " 5 " id. " 2-69 
" 90 " 6 " id. " 2-73 
" 60 " 4 " 56 " 2-73 
" 75 " 5 " id. " 2-S0 
u 60 « 4 a 45 a 2-70 
75 " 5 •< id. " 2-72 
