CHLOROFORMIC  SOLUTION  OF  GUTTA  PBRCHA.  201 
'fluid  ounces  and  6|  fluid  drachms.    As  this  fluid  extract  is  too 
thick,  the  sugar  might  he  reduced  to  3|  oz.  with  advantage, 
and  the  preparation  would  then  measure  8  fluid  ounces. 
Philadelphia,  Feb.  1861. 
ON  CHLOROFORMIC  SOLUTION  OF  GUTTA  PERCHA. 
By  William  Hodgson,  Jr. 
{^NoTE. — Soon  after  it  was  known  that  gutta  percha  would  dissolve 
readily  in  chloroform,  Mr.  Hodgson  introduced  the  dark  colored  impure 
solution  as  an  application  for  abraided  surfaces,  in  lieu  of  court  plaster. 
Subsequently,  about  eight  years  ago,  he  ascertained  a  method  of  depriving 
the  solution  of  color,  so  as  to  yield,  by  evaporation,  a  colorless  layer  when 
applied  to  the  skin.  At  the  request  of  Dr.  George  B.  Wood,  Mr.  Hodgson 
cheerfully  communicated  his  formula  for  the  use  of  the  Pharmacopoeia  Com- 
mittee, and  with  the  sanction  of  those  gentlemen  we  publish  the  recipe  in 
advance  of  the  Pharmacopoeia.  The  following  is  a  transcript  from  the  re- 
port of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia  on  the  U.  S.  Pharma- 
copoeia.— Ed.  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.] 
LIQUOR  GUTM  PERCHiE  CHLOROFORMICUS. 
Chloroformic  Solution  of  Gutta  Percha. 
Take  of  Gutta  Percha,  in  small  slices,  an  ounce  and  a  half. 
Chloroform,  twelve  fluid-ounces. 
Carbonate  of  Lead,  in  fine  powder,  two  ounces. 
To  eight  fluid-ounces  of  the  chloroform  contained  in  a  bottle, 
add  the  gutta  percha,  and  shake  occasionally  till  it  is  dissolved ; 
then  add  the  carbonate  of  lead,  previously  mixed  smoothly  with 
the  remainder  of  the  chloroform,  and  having  shaken  the  whole 
thoroughly  together,  several  times,  at  intervals  of  half  an  hour, 
set  the  the  mixture  aside  and  let  it  stand  for  ten  days,  or  until 
the  insoluble  matter  has  subsided,  and  the  solution  has  become 
limpid,  and  either  colorless  or  of  a  slight  straw  color.  Lastly, 
decant,  and  keep  the  solution  in  a  glass  stopped  bottle. 
