Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
Feb.  1, 1872.  / 
On  Alnus  Incana. 
75 
is  a  mixture  of  equal  measures  of  strong  alcohol  and  water.  A  very 
concentrated  solution,  in  the  proportion  of  two  parts  of  liquid  to  one 
of  tannin,  can  be  formed  with  the  aid  of  heat,  which  filters  with  the 
greatest  facility,  leaving  the  resinous  coloring  matter  and  the  metals 
untouched. 
Alcohol  alone,  in  the  proportion  of  four  to  one  of  tannin,  would  not 
filter  well.  Water,  in  the  proportion  of  at  least  four  to  one  of  tannin, 
would  not  filter  even  as  rapidly  as  the  solution  with  alcohol ;  and 
whilst  the  alcoholic  solution  becomes  turbid  with  water,  the  aqueous 
solution  never  became  clear  from  the  first,  and  moreover  was  always 
much  darkened  by  the  metallic  impurities  forming  colored  soluble  tan- 
nates.  The  preliminary  solvent,  and  permanent  solvent  above  pro- 
posed are  therefore  the  only  available  ones.  These  form  a  light  greenr 
thin,  syrupy  solution,  miscible  with  glycerin  and  water  in  all  propor- 
tions without  losing  their  brightness,  and  forming  in  a  more  dilute 
condition  colorless  solutions. 
From  these  observations  the  following  formula  is  deduced  : 
Take  of  Tannin        ....        8  troy-ounces. 
Glycerin     .       .       ...       4    "  " 
Strong  alcohol     ...        8  fluid-ounces. 
Water  8    "  " 
Mix  the  alcohol  and  water  ;  add  the  tannin  and  apply  heat  until 
the  tannin  has  dissolved.  Filter  hot,  then  add  the  glycerin  and 
evaporate  by  a  careful  heat  until  the  solution  weighs  16  troy-ounces. 
—  The  Pharmacist,  Dec,  1871. 
H HEMOSTATIC  PROPERTIES  OF  ALNUS  INOANA. 
Thomas  R.  Dupuis,M.D.,  Prof.  Botany  in  Royal  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  Kingston  (Canada  Lancet),  recommends  the  Alnus 
Incana,  Willd.  (Tag  alder),  so  common  in  the  States  and  Canadas,  as 
an  excellent  haemostatic,  tie  has  prescribed  the  bark  both  externally 
and  internally,  and  has  never  observed  any  ill  effects  follow  its  use, 
except  occasionally  nausea  and  vomiting  when  taken  too  freely. 
Four  cases  are  related — three  of  wounds  and  one  of  serious  epis- 
taxis — which  were  successfully  treated  with  this  remedy.  He  has 
also  prescribed  it  in  haemoptysis  and  in  menorrhagia  with  benefit ;  it 
is  also  well  adapted  to  any  internal  or  external  passive  haemorrhages 
in  which  astringents  are  generally  esteemed  beneficial. 
