174 
ON THE EXTRACT OF HEMLOCK. 
the same inducement as there now is to give a factitious green 
color to extract of hemlock.* 
3rd. That as dried hemlock leaves were, to all appe. ranee, de- 
prived of their activity by rectified spirit, and that as the result- 
ing tincture held few of the constituents of the dried leaves in solu- 
tion, besides conia, and a little chlorophylle, a strong spirit of 
specific gravity .838, or thereabout, is better adapted for making 
an effective tincture of hemlock than a weaker spirit is. 
As regards the part of the plant to be used, it will, it is thought, 
be found more advantageous to use the leaves alone than any other 
part, the expressed juice from the leaves containing a less amount 
of water, in proportion to the amount of solid matter, than an 
equal weight of juice expressed from any other part of the plant. 
The color of the expressed juice is also much influenced by the 
part of the plant used, that from the leaves being of a much 
brighter green than the juice from any other part of the plant. 
T*This is corroborative of the views given at pages 207 and 382 of vol. 
xxii of this Journal, in speaking of the extract of hemlock prepared by 
the Messrs. Tilden & Co. The new formula in our Pharmacopoeia of 1850, 
just published, directs this extract to be made in the manner described. — 
We have recently had an opportunity for comparing the therapeutical 
power of the Extract of Conia, prepared by Tilden & Co. with the English 
extract obtained from one of the best importing houses in this city. The 
latter was introduced into a prescription and used in two grain doses. 
The physician was meanwhile informed of the brown vcciium extract of 
T. & Co. and directed us to use it when the prescription was renewed. 
Soon after the patient had commenced taking the latter extract, the pecu- 
liar narcotic action of the drug was so much more apparent, that the physi- 
cian was sent for relative thereto. 
We dissolved two hundred grains of this extract of hemlock in water, 
precipitated with subacetate of lead, filtered, and washed the precipitate 
well. The solution thus obtained, was mixed with caustic potassa, and 
shaken with chloroform, as recommended by Rabourdain for Atropia, (see 
page 159.) The chloroform solution was suffered to evaporate spontaneous- 
ly, and yielded nearly one grain of a brownish semi-fluid, having a strong 
mouse-like odor, and alkaline reaction. The ascertained activity of this ex- 
tract, viewed in connection with the small yield of impure conia, is an evi- 
dence of the potent character of this alkaloid. Geiger obtained but 
l-12800th from the fresh leaves, by distillation with water. — Editor Am. 
Journ. Pharm.] 
