292 
ON  FLUID  EXTRACT  OF  ARNICA. 
with  small  quantities  lest  the  small  excess  of  muriatic  acid  needed 
in  the  tincture  be  lost  or  reduced.  As  the  nitric  acid  is  added 
the  color  of  the  solution  changes  rapidly  to  brown,  and  when  the 
acid  ceases  to  produce  effervescence  the  solution  gives  a  negative 
indication  with  the  3KCy,  Fe2  Cy3  test  solution. 
The  finished  solution  being  perfectly  clear  and  bright  requires 
no  filtration.  When  cold,  made  up  to  the  measure,  and  mixed 
with  the  alcohol,  a  contraction  of  volume  occurs  equal  to  7  or  8f.s 
or  about  two  per  cent,  by  volume,  and  a  fine  effervescence  occurs 
coincidently  with  slight  rise  of  temperature. 
If  the  iron  be  pure,  (free  from  silica  and  alumina,)  and  the 
small  excess  of  HC1  be  not  driven  off,  this  tincture  keeps  well 
and  free  from  turbidity  or  deposite,  and  has  the  important  pro- 
portion  of  hydrochloric  ether  necessary  to  its  proper  medicinal 
action  in  certain  cases.  As  this  ether,  whatever  its  precise 
nature  or  composition  may  be,  is  gradually  formed,  and  probably 
through  the  excess  of  HC1,  and  as  it  is  important  if  not  indis- 
pensable to  the  proper  effect  of  the  tincture  in  spasmodic  affec- 
tions of  the  urinary  organs,  the  preparation  should  not  be  used 
when  newly  made.  It  probably  becomes  better  the  longer  it  is 
kept. 
Naval  Laboratory ',  New  York,  May  1857. 
ON  FLUID  EXTKACT  OF  ARNICA. 
By  J.  M.  Maisch. 
In  several  establishments  in  New  York,  an  article  is  sold  under 
the  name  of  extract  or  fluid  extract  of  arnica,  and  recommended 
as  an  external  application  for  sprains,  bruises,  insect  bites,  &c, 
for  which  the  tincture  of  arnica  is  usually  employed  as  a  domestic 
remedy.  I  have  not  seen  any  formula  for  the  preparation  of 
this  fluid  extract,  and  have  therefore  endeavored  to  find  one,  by 
which  all  the  medicinal  virtues  residing  in  the  arnica  flowers 
might  be  preserved.  The  flowers  as  well  as  the  root,  both  of 
which  have  been  employed  medicinally,  have  not  been  subject  of 
chemical  analysis  for  upwards  of  ten  years,  and  we  therefore 
know  comparatively  but  little  of  their  constituents.  According 
to  the  old  analysis  of  Chevallier  and  Lassaigne  the  flowers  con- 
tain besides  anorganic  salts,  albumen,  gum,  coloring  matter. 
