Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Jan.  1, 1872.  $ 
Pharmaceutical  Processes,  etc. 
3 
duced  near  the  beginning  of  the  lecture  into  the  evaporating  pan,  and 
steam  turned  on.  In  a  few  minutes  the  liquid  was  in  active  ebullition  ; 
after  boiling  a  short  time  it  was  removed  and  strained,  but  without 
yielding  a  precipitate  of  insoluble  matter  ;  the  strained  liquid  returned 
was  rapidly  inspissated  till  the  close  of  the  lecture.  The  percolation 
continued  yielded  about  two  gallons  additional  of  percolate,  which 
with  the  first  portion  was  evaporated  in  the  interim  to  a  soft  pilular 
consistence,  and  the  finished  extract  exhibited  at  the  following  lecture. 
The  product  weighed  2  lbs.  11  oz.  av.,  ==  41  per  cent.,  which  might 
have  been  somewhat  increased  if  the  percolation  had  been  longer 
continued,  though  without  profit.  The  gentian,  at  16  cents  per  lb., 
which  included  the  cost  of  powdering,  cost  $1.08 ;  the  fuel  may  be 
estimated  as  costing  36  cents.  The  extract,  therefore,  cost  in  the 
aggregate  $1.44,  =  52  cents  per  lb.  It  was  of  superior  quality,  of 
rich  brown  color,  and  with  a  decided  odor  of  the  root. 
Extraction  Jalap     U.  S.  P. 
Two  pounds,  avoirdupois,  of  finely  powdered  jalap  was  moistened 
with  six  fluidounces  of  alcohol,  sp.  gr.  -835,  and  packed  in  a  strong 
ten-inch  glass  funnel,  which  was  suspended  over  a  suitable  receiving 
vessel.  Alcohol  was  added  till  about  four  pints  of  tincture  had 
passed  ;  then  water  was  gradually  poured  on,  and  its  progress  watched 
till  it  had  nearly  reached  the  perforated  cork  diaphragm  fitted  above 
the  neck  of  the  funnel.  Another  receiver  was  now  substituted,  and, 
the  supply  of  water  being  kept  up,  6  pints  of  aqueous  percolate  was 
received.  The  success  of  the  last  part  of  this  process  was  more  com- 
plete than  was  anticipated  with  so  fine  a  powder  of  jalap,  a  perforated 
cork  diaphragm  of  about  2  inches  diameter  being  used,  and  the  shape 
of  the  funnel  favoring  the  swelling  of  the  powder  on  the  addition  of 
water,  without  unduly  compacting  it,  so  that  when  the  aqueous  men- 
struum had  begun  to  pass,  the  dropping  continued  moderately  fast 
throughout.  The  quantity  of  menstruum,  though  less  than  that  indi-  * 
cated  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  was  limited  to  such  amount  as  could  be 
conveniently  evaporated  during  the  time1  at  our  disposal,  and,  as  the 
result  proved,  gave  a  fair  yield  of  extract. 
At  the  second  lecture  on  extracts  the  alcoholic  percolate  from  the 
jalap  was  introduced  into  the  evaporating  pan,  and  the  dome  clamped 
on  to  it,  as  shown  in  the  drawing ;  and  to  this  a  large  glass  Liebig's 
condenser  was  attached,  and  connected  with  the  hydrant  and  sink  by 
