AmMJa0n,r'i8P77arm'}  The  Keeping  and  Dispensing  of  Extracts.  103: 
made,  and  keeping  them  in  the  usual  white  earthen  jar,  covered  with 
an  abundance  of  lycopodium. 
The  convenience  of  this  method  will  be  appreciated  when  once  tried 
Its  advantages  are  :  its  readiness  for  dispensing  its  neatness  for  hand- 
ling and  the  cleanliness  of  the  jar  and  label  externally  ;  its  economy> 
compared  with  the  usual  mode  of  weighing  small  quantities  as  wanted,, 
and  thereby  losing  what  sticks  to  the  spatulas  ;  its  uniformity  oi> 
strength  (not  being  affected  by  subsequent  drying  or  deliquescence,  as 
usual) ;  the  full  weight  is  given,  whereas  by  the  usual  method  of 
weighing  on  paper  some  is  lost,  not  being  removable. 
To  this  last  I  would  add  a  suggestion  :  instead  of  weighing  solid! 
extracts  on  paper,  a  better  plan  is  to  dust  lycopodium  over  it  on  taking- 
it  from  the  jar,  and  to  roll  it  between  the  fingers,  dusted  over  with  the 
same  powder.  The  little  ball  may  then  be  weighed,  as  any  other  solid, 
in  the  dish  of  the  scale  without  sticking  to  it.  The  lycopodium  would 
not  add  materially  to  the  weight,  as  it  may  all  be  blown  off  except  a 
very  thin  film.  Should  perfect  accuracy  be  demanded,  both  pans  of 
the  scale  may  be  dusted  over  with  lycopodium  and  balanced  with  it; 
then  the  extract  may  be  placed  in  the  pan,  on  the  powder,  and 
weighed. 
The  main  disadvantage  that  appears  to  present  itself  in  the  matter 
of  keeping  the  weighed  masses  is  the  possibility  of  the  extract  becom- 
ing so  dry  as  to  be  worked  up  in  prescriptions  with  difficulty,  This- 
might  be  prevented  by  a  proper  addition  of  glycerin  ;  and  I  am  of 
opinion  that,  even  should  the  extract  become  dry,  it  might  be  softened 
by  placing  a  moistened  sponge  in  the  jar  with  the  pills,  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  not  to  wet  them,  but  supply  a  moist  atmosphere,  and  let  the 
pills  absorb  moisture  without  altering  their  shape.  I  have  not  had 
occasion,  however,  to  try  this  plan,  and  cannot  speak  positively  about 
its  successful  application. 
In  conclusion,  it  may  be  stated  yet  that  the  pills  may  be  put  into 
different  jars,  or  several  sizes  may  be  kept  in  the  same  jar,  by  making 
partitions,  or  by  making  such  great  difference  in  the  sizes  or  shapes  of 
the  masses  as  to  identify  them. 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  Jan.  31,  1877. 
