4  Pharmaceuiical  Processes,  etc.  {^iaSjwJ"' 
elastic  hose.  Steam  being  generated,  which  occupied  about  ten  min- 
utes, the  alcohol  was  rapidly  recovered,  and  at  the  close  of  the  lec- 
ture, the  dome  being  removed  from  the  pan,  a  dry  mass  of  resinous 
extract  was  obtained,  which  weighed  6|  oz.  (av.)  and  40  grs.,  nearly 
21-4  per  cent,  of  the  jalap  used.  The  alcohol  had  scarcely  lost  in 
quantity,  but  was  not  free  from  the  odor  of  the  drug.  The  aqueous 
percolate  was  evaporated  to  a  syrupy  consistence,  after  the  lecture,, 
removed  from  the  pan,  and  divided  into  two  equal  parts.  The  resin- 
ous mass  was  dissolved  in  a  pint  of  the  recovered  alcohol,  and  also- 
divided  into  two  equal  parts.  A  half  part  of  the  resinous  and 
aqueous  liquids  were  now  mixed,  as  directed  in  the  process  of  the- 
Pharmacopceia  for  the  whole,  and  the  mixture  being  evaporated  gave 
oz.  of  an  excellent  dry  hydro-alcoholic  extract. 
Two  pounds  of  jalap  having  been  used,  this  quantity,  being  one-half 
the  whole  yield,  represents  the  yield  per  pound  =  39  per  cent.  The 
powdered  jalap  cost  65  cents  per  pound,  the  alcohol  (half  the  quantity 
used)  55  cents,  the  heat,  estimated,  20  cents,  giving  an  aggregate  cost  of 
the  6J  ounces,  $1.40.  Deducting  alcohol  recovered  and  useful  for  a 
similar  process,  50  cents,  we  have  a  cost  of  90  cents,  or  $2.14  the  cost 
of  a  pound,  less  than  half  the  market  price  of  the  best  extractum 
jalapae. 
The  object  in  setting  aside  half  of  the  alcoholic  solution  of  resinous 
extract  was  to  ascertain  the  proportion  it  would  yield  of  the  officinal 
resina  jalapae.  Accordingly,  at  the  next  lecture  it  was  diluted  to  half 
a  pint  and  added  to  4  pints  of  water.  The  precipitate,  washed  by 
several  portions  of  water,  collected  and  dried,  yielded  2  ounces  of  the 
officinal  resina  jalapse,  or  12J  per  cent,  of  the  jalap  used.  The  cost 
of  this  was  about  70  cents  per  ounce. 
The  question  of  economy  in  evaporation  is  of  practical  interest  in 
connection  with  the  preparation  of  these  extracts  by  the  use  of  a 
steam  boiler,  and  is  an  element  of  inaccuracy  in  these  estimates.  The 
process  being  suspended  and  resumed  involves  a  loss  of  fuel,  and  there 
is  no  doubt  but  that  much  waste  occurs  from  there  being  too  many  burn- 
ers under  the  boiler.  Six  burners  instead  of  eight  would  serve  the 
purpose,  though  the  rapidity  of  getting  up  steam  would  be  lessened. 
Extractum  Nucis  Vomicae,  U.  S.  P. 
Twelve  troyounces  of  finely  powdered  nux  vomica,  moistened  with 
four  fluidounces  of  alcohol,  were  introduced  into  a  cylindrical  glass 
