ON SYRUP OF SARSAPARILLA. 
7 
amounting to two pints, was of dark color, and when con- 
centrated by evaporation, with a moderate heat to four fluid 
ounces, formed a fluid extract, strongly impregnated with 
the peculiar taste of sarsaparilla. Eight ounces of diluted 
alcohol were then added to the remaining root, and macera- 
ted for twelve hours, when one pint of tincture was passed, 
or displaced, by further additions of diluted alcohol. This 
tincture was without much color, but possessed in a marked 
degree the peculiar taste of sarsaparilla. When evaporated 
to four fluid ounces, it yielded a fluid extract, richly endow- 
ed with the active principles of the root. 
No. 2. Four ounces of Sarsaparilla, thoroughly bruised, 
and digested in two pints of water, at a temperature of 
about 180°, for two hours, was treated by displacement, with 
sufficient hot water to yield four pints of infusion ; the fun- 
nel being so arranged as to preserve the temperature of 
180° during the percolation of the liquid. It was then 
evaporated to twenty-two fluid ounces, and set aside for 
twelve hours. 
A floculent precipitate subsided, which was collected on 
a filter, treated with boiling alcohol and animal charcoal, 
for a few minutes, and passed through a filter while hot. 
It was then concentrated by evaporation and set aside. 
When cold, the alcohol was rendered opaque, with a white 
floculent precipitate. The evaporation being continued 
nearly to dryness, by a water bath, the residuum was treat- 
ed with boiling water, and filtered while hot. This pre- 
sented a milky aspect, and had a very bitter, nauseous, and 
acrid taste. No deposit occurring by allowing it to become 
cold, it was concentrated by evaporation, and set aside for 
several hours, when there appeared on the surface of the 
liquid an oily substance, having a nauseous acrid taste, with 
a strong odor of the root; a substance also subsided having 
the sensible properties ascribed to sarsaparillin, or the ac- 
tive principle of sarsaparilla. The infusion of twenty-two 
fluid ounces was subsequently evaporated to eleven fluid 
