Adonis  Vernalis.  581 
Make  first  an  infusion  with  tlie  enth'e  quantity  of  the  drug  and  three 
litres  of  boiling  water,  and  allow  the  whole  to  stand  in  contact  for  about 
twelve  hours  ;  then  decant  and  pour  the  fourth  litre  of  boiling  water  on  the 
drug.  After  two  hours'  infusion  the  two  liquors  are  united  and  evaporated 
in  a  vacuum  over  a  water-bath. 
An  average  of  three  operations  yielded  145  grams  of  aqueous  ex- 
tract for  500  grams  of  substance  employed.  Respecting  the  dose,  the 
author  calculates  that  as  the  quantity  of  infusion  given  by  Bubnoff  in 
twenty-four  hours  represented  4  grams  of  stalks  and  leaves  in  180 
grams  of  water,  and  as  the  500  grams  of  the  stalks  and  leaves  yielded 
145  grams  of  aqueous  extract,  the  quantity  of  this  extract  correspond- 
ing to  BubnofF's  daily  dose  of  infusion  would  be  1*10  gram.  Of 
course,  however,  these  proportions  would  require  to  be  confirmed  by 
-clinical  experience. 
The  extract  has  the  ordinary  appearance  of  extracts ;  it  is  blaclv, 
but  brown  by  transparence.  There  is  nothing  peculiar  in  the  odor, 
and  it  is  entirely  soluble  in  water.  Diluted  with  an  equal  quantity  of 
water  it  gives  an  olive-brown  precipitate  w^ith  phosphotungstate  of 
soda.  Subacetate  of  lead  produces  a  yellowish  white  precipitate, 
^^hilst  caustic  alkalies  cause  the  color  to  become  brighter.  When  dis- 
solved in  a  large  quantity  of  liquid  it  imparts  to  it  a  dirty  yellow 
color.    It  is  very  bitter. 
Hydroalcoholic  Extract  of  Adonis  Vernalis. 
Stalks  and  leaves   500  grams. 
Alcohol  (60°)   3,000 
Macerate  the  finely  chopped  herb  during  two  days  in  the  alcohol,  decant 
the  liquid,  distil  ofi"  the  spirit  and  evaporate  in  a  vacuum  over  a  water- 
bath  to  a  syrupy  consistence.  At  this  point  some  tarry  and  resinous  pro- 
ducts, which  are  insoluble  in  water,  may  be  seen  floating  on  the  surface. 
The  author  has  obtained  good  results  by  taking  up  the  extract  again  with 
distilled  water,  filtering  and  evajDorating  afresh  to  a  homogeneous  mass. 
The  characters  of  this  extract  differ  from  those  of  the  aqueous  ex- 
tract. It  is  soluble  in  water,  and  has  a  bitter  taste  and  an  empyreu- 
matic  odor.  The  aqueous  solution  gives  with  subacetate  of  lead  an 
abundant  precipitate,  which,  according  to  Linderos,  would  contain 
aconitate  of  lead.  Phosphotungstate  of  soda  produces  a  persistent 
turbidity,  whilst  the  caustic  alkalies  brighten  up  the  brown  color  and 
give  it  a  tendency  towards  green.  The  yield  of  this  extract  is  practi- 
cally the  same  as  in  the  case  of  the  aqueous  extract ;  on  an  average  at 
least  250  grams  may  be  expected  from  a  kilogram  of  the  plant. — 
Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  Aug.  15,  1885,  p.  145. 
