12 
REVIEW OF THE DUBLIN PHARMACOPOEIA. 
treatment does not improve it, and if bad it does not render it 
better, unless it has been adulterated. These two processes recall 
to mind the often quoted epigram : 
" The king of France, with twenty thousand men, 
Sailed up the Scheldt — and then sailed down again." 
Extractum Colchici Aceticum is directed to be made by di- 
gesting four ounces of the dried root in eight fluid ounces of di- 
lu ed ace ic acid for fourteen days, then filter and evaporate to a 
soft extract by means of a water-bath ! We have strong doubts 
whether the extract would be forthcoming by this treatment, as 4 
oz. of colchicum root will, if we mistake not, retain nearly the 
whole menstruum by imbibition, and no direction is given to ex- 
press, or to displace. 
Extractum Rhei, is made with six parts of water, and when done 
is but little stronger than the root from which it was made. Di- 
luted alcohol yields a much more efficient extract. 
Extractum Sarsaparillcz Fluidum, the only fluid extract, is made 
by acting on the root with 8 parts of water at 212° in two succes- 
sive operations, evaporating to a thin syrup and adding q. s. recti- 
fied spirit to make it measure Oj. (Imp.) What will our American 
apothecaries think of this ? Our Irish brethren do not seem to un- 
derstand the constitution of sarsaparilla, or its relation to solvents, 
else they would have directed an alcoholic menstruum. 
Infusions. — The average time of maceration in these prepara- 
tions has very properly been abridged, none of them requiring more 
than one hour. Among them we notice as new : — 
Infusum Ergotce ; two drachms to nine ounces. 
Infusum Matico ; half an ounce to ten ounces, &c. 
Infusum Polygalce ; instead of Decoctum Senegas. 
Iodinium Purum. — Commercial iodine is directed to be purified 
thus : — " Introduce it into a deep porcelain capsule of a circular 
shape, and having covered this as accurately as possible with a 
glass matrass filled with cold water, apply to the capsule a water 
heat for the space of twenty minutes, and then, withdrawing the 
heat, permit the capsule to cool. Should the sublimate attached to 
the bottom of the matrass include acicular prisms of a white color 
and pungent odor, let it be scraped off with a glass rod and re- 
jected. The matrass being now returned to its previous position, 
a gentle and steady heat (that of a gas lamp answers well) is to 
be applied, so as to sublime the entire of the iodine. Upon now 
