ON EXTRACTUM LOBELIA FLUIDUM. 
207 
drachms of chloroform (equal to about 3h drachms by weight) 
with four fluid ounces of alcohol. The latter burns clear, with 
scarcely any smoke ; whereas the former produces so much smoke 
and soot as to be very offensive. 
As chloroform contains about 90 per cent, of chlorine, one fluid 
ounce of the above proposed tincture (containing about 11J per 
cent, of chloroform) would have in its composition about 45 grains 
of chlorine, equal, if evolved in that form, to about 59 cubic inches 
of chlorine gas, or a little more than two pints. But until further 
examinations or experiments are pursued, we are in the dark as to 
the chlorine value of the resulting gas, as distinguished from the 
chlorohydric acid. 
Philadelphia, bth mo. } 1852. 
EXTRACTUM LOBELLE FLUIDUM. 
By William Procter, Jr. 
Having had occasion to prepare a fluid extract of lobelia at the 
solicitation of a druggist, the following process was employed, 
which is based on the fact, that in the presence of an excess of 
acid, the lobelina of the natural salt which gives activity to the 
drug is not decomposed and destroyed by the heat used, as ex- 
plained on a former occasion, (vol. xiv. page 108 of this Journal.) 
Take of Lobelia (the plant) finely bruised, eight ounces, (troy) 
Acetic acid one fluid ounce. 
Diluted alcohol three pints. 
Alcohol six fluid ounces. 
Macerate the lobelia in a pint and a half of the diluted alcohol, 
previously mixed with the acetic acid, for twenty-four hours ; in- 
troduce the mixture into an earthen displacer, pour on slowly the 
remainder of the diluted alcohol, and afterwards water until three 
pints of tincture are obtained; evaporate this in a water bath to ten 
fluid ounces, strain, add the alcohol and when mixed, filter through 
paper. 
Each teaspoonful of this preparation is equal to half a fluid 
ounce of the tincture. It may be employed advantageously to 
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