192 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
paler in succession, and the last had hardly any color, and no 
other taste than that of the menstruum. 
From the dried leaves of Cicuta, Stramonium, and Bella- 
donna, treated with cold water, we obtained a quantity of 
soluble extract of pilular consistence, equal, in two instances, 
to one-fourth of the weight of the substance employed. 
The Compound Extract of Colocynth can, by this me* 
thod, be made in thirty-six hours, with very little trouble, 
whilst, by the old process, seven days are required. 
The outline of this process is as follows : the quantity of 
pulp of colocynth directed by the formula, is bruised finely, 
placed in a displacement apparatus, and treated with the pro- 
per quantity of diluted alcohol in successive portions. So 
completely does this remove the bitter principle, that the pulp 
may be chewed without communicating, very sensibly, its 
distinguishing property to the taste. 
The •/Sloes, Scammony, Soap, and Cardamum, are 
coarsely bruised, mixed with an equal bulk of white sand, 
and the whole thrown in the displacement filter, and treated 
with the tincture of colocynth. Before all of the latter has 
passed, nothing remains in the filter but the sand, impurities, 
and cardamum pods; finally, evaporate by a gentle heat until 
the proper consistence is attained. 
TINCTURES. 
The displacement method applies particularly well to tinc- 
tures, which are obtained in an astonishingly rapid and regular 
manner. Though we do not yet go so far as to recommend 
it in the indiscriminate preparation of all the tinctures, still, 
from our experiments with a great number of those made with 
vegetable powders, we are satisfied that their superiority in 
strength, handsome appearance, and the readiness with which 
they can be prepared, claim, for the new method, our decid* 
ed preference. 
The direction attached to the formulae of the Pharmacopoeia 
under the head of tinctures, is to macerate for a certain number 
of days, say ten, or more, and then filter through paper. In 
