66  Practical  Notes.  { ^"'i? """iss*™' 
therein,  with  occasional  agitation,  for  twenty-four  liours.  Then  add 
the  water,  treat  in  the  same  manner  for  two  days,  and  filter  the  extract, 
which  will  be  found  to  possess  a  strong  flavor  and  good  color. 
Extract  of  Herbs  for  Flavoring  Soups,  etc. — The  addition  of  herbs 
to  sonp  so  as  to  flavor  it  pleasantly  has  suggested  the  advisability  of 
making  a  preparation  that  will  contain  and  retain  unchanged  the  vari- 
ous flavors  usually  employed.  The  delicate  aroma  of  many  of  them 
is  impaired  by  time  and  exposure,  and  it  is  therefore  desirable  to 
preserve  them,  which  is  done  when  made  into  an  extract  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner: 
R  Savory, 
Sweet  marjoram, 
Basil,  .  .  .  .    each  2  ounces  (troy) 
Sage, 
Black  pepper,        .  .  each  h  ounce  " 
Thyme,  ...  1  ounce  " 
Celery  seed,  .  .  -1?  drachm 
Alcohol,  .  ,  .  3J  pints 
Water,       .  .  .  .J  pint 
Reduce  the  dry  ingredients  to  a  coarse  powder.  Pack  them  tightly 
in  a  percolator,  after  having  moistened  them  with  six  fluidounces  of 
the  mixture  of  alcohol  and  water.  Pour  on  the  remainder  of  the  men- 
struum. As  soon  as  the  liquid  ceases  to  pass  through,  displace  with 
diluted  ftloohol  sufficient  to  make  the  product  measure  four  pints. 
This  will  be  found  a  very  palatable  addition  to  soups  and  gravies. 
As  delicate  persons  frequently  complain  of  the  insipidity  of  beef- 
tea,  or  infusions  of  extracts  of  meat,  I  have  found  that  their  objections 
can  be  overcome  by  mixing  4  or  5  drops  of  the  extract  of  herbs^'  with 
each  wineglassful  of  the  tea,  so  that  they  can  take  it  with  relish.  For 
this  reason  I  think  it  is  a  desideratum  for  the  druggist  to  be  able  to 
offer  to  such  customers  a  preparation  like  that  described  above.  Some 
invalids,  however,  prefer  the  flavor  of  celery,  which  can  be  made  by 
the  following  formula,  and  the  same  quantity  used  as  of  the  former ; 
R    Celery  seeds  (bruised),        .  .        6  drachms 
Alcohol,  ...  14  fluidounces 
Water,  ^    .  .  .  .2  fluidounces 
Macerate  for  2  days  and  filter. 
MarMng  Pill  Cutting  Machines. — One  of  those  small  contrivances 
that  add  to  the  convenience  of  the  dispenser  of  prescriptions  consists 
of  marking  each  groove  of  the  pill  machine  consecutively,  thereby 
saving  the  time  required  to  count  them,  Avhich  is  often  quite  desirable, 
