AMFebUi;iP8H72RM'}  Linimentum  Sap&nis.  65 
by  the  operator,  and  the  sugar  can  be  mixed  with  the  powder  after- 
wards, and  dissolved  in  the  menstruum  before  digestion.  But  I  have 
always  had  success  when  using  the  sugar,  and  prefer  it  to  any  other 
substance. 
A  thermometer  should  be  kept  in  the  water-bath  during  the  diges- 
tion for  the  purpose  of  regulating  the  temperature,  which  should  not 
be  allowed  to  exceed  170°. 
The  elevated  temperature  at  which  the  digestion  is  conducted  very 
greatly  contributes  to  the  ready  solution  of  the  active  constituents  of 
the  vanilla;  it  softens  and  expands  the  tough  particles  of  shell,  and 
admits  of  the  free  access  of  the  menstruum,  (the  solvent  power  of  which 
is  also  greatly  heightened  by  the  heat,)  to  all  its  parts.  The  diges- 
tion being  performed  in  a  close  vessel,  there  is  consequently  no  loss  of 
aroma  in  the  process. 
The  above  is  an  expeditious  and  at  the  same  time  efficient  method 
of  making  this  preparation,  and  if  the  process  is  managed  with  care, 
it  will  thoroughly  exhaust  the  vanilla.  In  fact,  this  is  almost  accom- 
plished by  the  digestion  itself,  as  is  shown  by  the  circumstance  that 
the  dregs  after  they  are  expressed  are  almost  tasteless. 
In  the  absence  of  any  recognized  standard  strength  for  the  fluid  ex- 
tract of  vanilla,  I  have,  in  the  above  formula,  adopted  that  which  is 
usually  employed,  namely,  one  troy  ounce  of  vanilla  to  one  pint  of 
menstruum.  In  preparing  it  for  general  use,  these  proportions  are 
perhaps  the  best  that  can  be  made. 
The  alcoholic  strength  of  the  menstruum  to  be  employed  in  making 
the  fluid  extract  of  vanilla  is  also  not  a  matter  of  indifference,  as  upon 
this  depends  the  color  as  well  as  the  quality  of  the  finished  product. 
The  one  I  have  chosen,  consisting  of  three  parts  of  alcohol  and  one 
part  of  water,  seems  to  answer  the  purpose  most  admirably.  Diluted 
alcohol  is  not  so  good  a  solvent  for  the  virtues  of  vanilla,  and  it  ex- 
tracts too  much  coloring  matter,  rendering  the  fluid  extract  too  dark, 
while  alcohol  alone  affords  a  preparation  objectionably  light  in  color, 
and  also  makes  its  manufacture  rather  more  expensive. 
Philadelphia,  January,  1872. 
LTNIMENTUM  SAPONIS, 
By  J.  A.  Graefle. 
This  preparation  can  be  made  in  a  few  minutes  by  the  following 
modification  of  the  officinal  process  : 
5 
