272 
COPALCHI BARK. 
fied I am of this, that in dyspeptic cases especially, by 
employing the alkaloids or bitter principle, separated from 
the aromatic, resinous, or other principles with which they 
are usually associated, we destroy to a great extent the 
therapeutic powers of the drug, and fail to derive those 
benefits which we should receive from making use of a 
spirituous extract, a tincture, or even the simple infusion 
or decoction of the drug. The warm aromatic principles, 
associated with the powerful bitter in the Copalchi, seem 
to me to supply the want of a light bitter, which most 
practitioners must have experienced ; and it is to be hoped, 
that it will succeed in the hands of others as much as it has 
as yet done in mine. 
It may be remarked, that the infusion and decoction of 
Copalchi are best made of the strength of half an ounce of 
bark to one pint of water. The tincture, with one ounce 
of bark to one pint of proof spirit. The dose of the infu- 
sion and decoction is a table-spoonful or small wine-glass- 
ful twice or thrice daily. Of the tincture, one or two tea- 
spoonsful, or of the extract from one to two grains, twice 
or thrice daily. 
As Copalchi bark yields freely much coloring matter, 
might it not be employed with advantage in dying ? One, 
at least, of the crotons yields a valuable dye ; and even the 
cascarilla itself is used in France as a dyestuff, yielding a 
rich black color, which is easily fixed on stuffs little fitted 
for receiving fine dyes. — Pharmaceutical Journal, jSpril 
1, 1850. 
