208 
AMERICAN NARCOTIC AND OTHER EXTRACTS. 
subsequent separation of the insoluble chlorophylle and 
albuminous portion, from the softer soluble part. It is not 
more acid than the English, nor is there any evidence of 
local decomposition as in the preceding. It has the heavy nar- 
cotic odor of the bruised plant very strongly manifest, owing 
no doubt to the low temperature at which it was prepared. 
We have not seen the extracts of Belladonna and 
Stramonium as prepared by Tilden & Co., but presume they 
are similar in quality with those we have described. 
Since writing the above, we have conversed with Dr. 
Conrad, of the pharmaceutical department of the Pennsyl- 
vania Hospital, in reference to these extracts. He informs 
us that the extract of Conium of Tilden & Co. has been 
used in that Institution with decided satisfaction — equalling 
the English extract, in the opinion of the physicians of 
the House. We are gratified to hear this testimony in favor 
of the American extract, because it. leads to the inference 
that the ill success which has attended its use on many oc- 
casions may be attributed to faulty preparation or ill-timed 
gathering of the plant, rather than to our climate. 
Mr. Tilden informs us that his apparatus consists princi- 
pally of two evaporators, one capable of holding several 
hundred gallons, designed for concentrating the liquid to a 
a syrupy consistence, and which is heated by steam circu- 
lating in tubes penetrating the interior of the evaporator. 
An exhausting pump constantly acts on the atmosphere of 
this vessel so as to reduce the boiling point to about 140* 
Fahr. The openings of this boiler are comparatively small, 
as the concentrated juice infusion or tincture can be drawn 
off by a cock beneath. The other evaporator, in which 
the extract is finished, is much smaller. The openings are 
larger, so as to admit of the removal of the extract when 
finished. We presume there are certain practical difficul- 
ties that present themselves, in the use of this arrangement, 
after the product has attained a certain consistence, and this 
may be the reason of the softness of the extracts noticed, 
