98  Pharmacy  of  Chian  Turpentine.  {AmFehT,\m&Tm' 
purified  it  has  an  opaque  appearance  very  different  from  that  de- 
scribed in  the  text-books;  and,  in  my  opinion,  is  likely  to  be  injured 
by  such  treatment. 
It  has  been  exhibited  in  the  form  of  pills  and  of  an  emulsion. 
The  finely  divided  state  in  which  it  exists  in  the  emulsion  renders  it 
more  likely  to  be  absorbed  (when  swallowed)  than  if  it  is  given  in  the 
pilular  form. 
The  emulsion  should  contain  an  invariable  proportion  of  the 
purified  oleo-resin,  and  must  be  freed  from  the  ether  used  in  the 
process. 
To  do  this  I  prepare  an  ethereal  tincture,  ascertain  the  strength  of 
it,  convert  it  into  an  emulsion,  and  expose  in  an  open  vessel,  with 
frequent  stirring,  until  all  ether  has  gone  off. 
To  make  the  ethereal  tincture: 
Put  any  convenient  quantity  of  the  turpentine  into  a  wide-mouthed 
bottle,  with  an  equal  bulk  of  ether,  cork  tightly  and  shake  frequently 
until  all  soluble  matter  has  dissolved,  set  aside  until  the  ethereal 
liquid  has  become  bright,  decant  it,  and  evaporate  half  a  fluidounce 
in  a  tarred  evaporating  dish — at  first  in  a  current  of  air — finally  ex- 
posing to  a  very  gentle  heat  for  a  minute  or  two  (the  heat  of  warm 
water  is  sufficient  if  the  dish  be  rotated). 
When  the  ether  has  gone  off  weigh  the  dish  and  its  contents, 
deduct  the  weight  of  the  former  and  thus  ascertain  the  quantity  of 
pure  oleo-resin  in  each  half-ounce  of  tincture. 
The  standardized  tincture  may  of  course  be  kept  for  any  length  of 
time,  and  the  emulsion  made  from  it  as  required. 
To  prepare  the  emulsion : 
Place  in  a  large  mortar  240  grains  of  pulverized  acacia  and  50 
grains  of  pulverized  tragacanth,  add  as  much  ethereal  solution  as 
contains  240  grains  of  the  turpentine,  mix,  and  add  all  at  once  a  fluid- 
ounce  of  water,  triturate  until  an  emulsion  is  formed,  then  dilute 
gradually  to  eight  fluidounces.  Two  fluid  drachms  will  contain 
seven  and  a  half  grains  of  the  pure  drug,  the  usual  initial  dose. 
Remove  all  traces  of  ether  by  exposure  with  frequent  stirring  in 
an  open  vessel,  preferably  in  the  cold. 
The  removal  of  all  ether  is  important,  because  the  dose  of  emulsion 
is  gradually  increased,  and  the  treatment  continued  for  a  considerable 
time. — Phar.  Journ.  and  Trans.  Dec.  4,  1886. 
Queen's  Hospital,  Birmingham. 
