6  Fluid  Extract  of  Cimicifuga.         }  ^ji^t"*' 
example.  From  the  fifth  there  was  no  regularity,  the  difference  in  the 
height  of  the  powders  did  not  influence  the  result;  indeed,  the  tenth 
percolator  furnished  an  extract  stronger  than  the  sixth.  This  irregu- 
larity, to  the  greater  extent,  resulted  from  the  cracks  in  the  powder,, 
which  were  caused  by  the  four  days'  maceration  with  an  insufficient 
amount  of  alcohol,  when  fissures  form  or  the  mass  of  the  powder  con- 
tracts and  separates  from  the  percolator  ;  the  menstruum,  when  added, 
passes  through  the  crevices  instead  of  permeating  the  material.  This 
was  particularly  evident  in  percolators  6,  7,  8  and  9,  where  the  alcohol 
run  at  once  in  an  uncolored  stream.  My  experience  is  that  the  powder 
should  be  kept  covered  with  liquid  from  the  commencement  until  the 
end  of  the  process.  There  will  be  no  greater  loss  of  alcohol  from 
evaporation  if  the  entire  amount  to  be  used  is  added  at  the  commence- 
ment. Extent  of  surface  controls  evaporation,  and  increase  of  bulk 
will  not  increase  the  surface  if  the  percolator  is  cylindrical.  Now,  as 
16  troyounces  of  cimicifuga  will  absorb  24  fluidounces  of  alcohol,  and 
24  fluidounces  of  percolate  are  to  be  obtained,  it  follows  that  the  word 
forty-eight,  substituted  for  sixteen  in  the  official  directions  for  making 
the  fluid  extract  of  this  article,  would  make  the  percolate  appear  from 
the  exit,  as  the  wording  of  the  directions  leads  us  to  anticipate,  would 
prevent  the  formation  of  crevices,  would  add  at  one  time  sufficient 
alcohol  to  furnish  both  the  percolates,  and  would  not  increase  the 
expense.  I  will  pass  on  now,  and  briefly  notice  experiment  No.  2,, 
differing  from  this  only  in  the  fact  that  the  powders  were  not  macerated. 
Experiment  2. — The  same  percolators  were  prepared  ;  7,680  grains 
of  powdered  cimicifuga  were  moistened  with  4  fluid  ounces, of  alcohol. 
This  amount  was  placed  in  each  of  the  ten  percolators,  pressed  until  it 
occupied  the  same  height  as  in  the  corresponding  percolators  of  previ- 
ous experiment,  and  covered  in  like  manner  with  circular  papers. 
Forty-four  fluidounces  of  alcohol  were  added  to  each,  and  percolation 
proceeded  with  at  once.  The  percolate  from  each  was  collected  in 
portions  of  14  and  10  fluidounces,  after  which  the  fluid  extract  was. 
finished  as  the  Pharmacopoeia  directs.    See  table  2. 
Recapitulation. — In  this  series  no  cracks  formed  in  the  powders.  The 
first  percolator  gave  the  largest  total  vield  of  extractive  matter,  repre- 
senting about  1 1 J  troyounces  of  cimicifuga.  The  ninth  contained  a 
little  more  than  enough  to  represent  seven.  Compared  with  the  pre- 
ceeding  table,  there  is  a  decided  increase  in  the  value  of  each  extract,. 
