206 
AMERICAN NARCOTIC AND OTHER EXTRACTS. 
whole plant having been extracted. The root only should 
be employed, and that collected between the first of 
September and the first of November. Extract of dande- 
lion should be brown or dark brown, a bitterish slightly 
sweet taste, acid to litmus, and a consistence suitable for 
pills. The Pharmacopoeia formula is defective in directing 
this extract to be made by boiling. The effect of heat con- 
tinued for a length of time on the juice of dandelion is to 
decrease and ultimately destroy its bitterness, and to give to 
the extract a saccharine taste and molasses like consistence. 
We have a specimen of this extract before us made by 
the " United Society 99 of New Lebanon, marked " extra," 
and prepared from the roots only, which has this objection 
— indeed it is so sweet as to be rather agreeable to the taste. 
We have another specimen that was prepared strictly ac- 
cording to the following directions, viz : 
The roots removed from the earth late in September, 
were washed, sliced transversely, and well bruised. To 
each pound of the pulpy mass three ounces of alcohol 
were added, the whole left to macerate for thirty-six hours 
in a covered vessel, then expressed, strained and evaporated 
on a water bath to the pilular consistence. Thus prepared 
it has a brown color, a decided bitter sweet taste, and has 
been approved by medical men. 
We believe if Messrs. Tilden & Co. would employ the root 
only, either with or without the alcohol, (which was used 
to allow of the maceration,) and remove the fluid portion by- 
powerful pressure, subsequently repeated after moistening 
the residue with its weight of water, that with their supe- 
rior advantages in conducting the evaporation, they would be 
able to furnish an extract of dandelion of great superiority. 
2d. Extract of Blood-root— This specimen, which is 
called an alcoholic e5tract, has a soft consistence like can- 
died honey, a dark red color, and is highly active. It is 
too soft, however, and probably from the presence of some 
uncrystallizable sugar, exhibited evidences of fermentation. 
