574 
EDITORIAL. 
The  hygroscopic  tendency  of  the  extract  of  hyoscyamus  is  probably  due  to 
the  natural  saline  matter  of  the  plant,  of  which  it  contains  about  seven  per 
cent.,  and  which  is  partly  extracted  in  the  juice  and  remains  in  the  extract. 
Fluid  Extract  of  Bark.-— The  following  letter  has  been  received  from 
our  old  correspondent : — 
Baltimore,  Md.,  September  22th,  1857. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Journal  of  Pharmacy : 
Dear  Sir, — In  preparing  some  fluid  extract  of  Calisayabark  I  thought 
proper  to  vary  the  usual  process,  expecting  to  procure  a  prettier  pharma- 
ceutic preparation,  and  succeeded,  unless  the  preparation  has  impaired 
the  powers  of  the  drug.  The  bark  was  pulverized  and  packed  lightly  in  a 
funnel  percolator,  the  powder  previously  moistened  with  9.5°  alcohol.  The 
active  principle  was  exhausted  by  continuous  additions  of  the  spirit.  The 
percolation  was  then  continued  with  water.  The  two  percolates  were 
mixed  and  evaporated  to  the  proper  quantity ;  this  being  cloudy,  from  the 
resinous  matter  precipitated  by  the  addition  of  the  aqueous  infusion  and 
evaporation  of  the  spirits,  was  strained.  The  sugar  was  then  added  in  the 
proportion  indicated  by  Alfred  B.  Taylor's  formula.  Heat  from  a  water 
bath  was  continued  a  short  time  and  the  fluid  extract  was  finished.  The 
resulting  preparation  is  very  pretty.  The  gummy  and  resinoid  residuum 
strained  from  the  evaporated  percolate  is  of  a  dark  brown  color,  having 
little  or  no  taste,  and  is,  as  I  conceive,  a  foreign  matter,  which  may  be 
removed  without  impairing  the  integrity  of  the  preparation. 
I  have  submitted  this  matter  to  your  consideration  for  the  benefit  I  may 
obtain  from  any  editoriai  remarks  you  may  think  proper  to  make. 
Enclosed  is  a  sample  of  the  residuum  obtained  by  the  straining. 
Respectfully  yours,  Ljeno, 
"  Loeno"  has  fallen  into  the  common  error  of  supposing  that  because  the 
precipitate  from  tincture  of  cinchonia  by  evaporation  is  insoluble  and  taste- 
less, it  must  be  inert ;  whereas  it  contains  a  considerable  per  centage  of 
cinchotannate  of  quinia  and  cinchonia,  as  a  few  drops  of  diluted  muriatic 
acid  added  to  the  "  residuum,"  of  which  he  sent  us  a  sample,  would  con- 
vince him  if  tasted.  Mr.  Taylor  was  well  aware  of  the  value  of  this  precipi- 
tate in  suggesting  the  formula,  and  hence  left  it  in  the  preparation,  to  which  , 
though  detracting  from  its  beauty,  it  gives  additional  medical  value.  If  the 
fluid  extract  is  made  with  a  small  excess  of  muriatic  or  sulphuric  acid, 
as  suggested  by  I.  C.  Jones,  a  clear  preparation  is  afforded,  but  the  natural 
alkaloidal  salts  are  decomposed  and  the  extract  is  much  more  bitter. 
T^nia  Solium. — We  publish  the  following  narrative,  though  not  strictly 
within  our  province,  because  in  some  of  its  details  it  may  prove  useful,  as 
suggested  by  the  author. 
New  York,  October,  1857. 
To  the  Editor  of  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
Dear  Sir, — The  subject  about  which  I  address  you  will,  no  doubt,  seem 
to  you  very  strange,  perhaps  incredible ;  but  believe  me,  I  shall  give 
nothing  but  plain  facts,  just  as  they  occurred  ;  and,  if  you  think  the  subject 
worthy  of  the  space  in  your  journal,  they  may,  perhaps,  be  of  benefit  to 
physicians  treating  cases  similar  to  mine.  In  1849  I  went  to  California  ; 
in  1850,  one  morning,  in  having  a  passage  of  the  bowels,  I  noticed  several 
small  worms  in  the  excrement,  (I  forgot  to  mention  I  am  a  druggist,  have 
