Amiov.r;Sarm,j  Revision  of  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia.  527 
Extract  of  Sumbul ;  both  of  these  appear  to  be  growing  in  favor, 
but  neither  was  introduced. 
Eighty-eight  fluid  extracts  are  official,  and  there  are  but  two  or 
three  that  should  be  dismissed,  namely,  those  of  kousso,  menisper- 
mum  and  savine.  Of  the  latter,  we  are  told  on  p.  165,  that  an 
official  preparation  is  Ceratum  Sabinse,  yet  this  has  been  dismissed. 
There  are  some  notable  changes  in  the  menstruums  directed.  Some 
of  these  changes  are  good,  but  others  are  questionable.  The  men- 
struum for  both  the  extract  and  the  Fluid  Extract  of  Aconite,  has 
been  alcohol.  It  is  now  directed  only  for  the  former,  for  the  fluid 
extract  a  mixture  of  3  volumes  alcohol  and  1  volume  water  is 
directed.  For  arnica  root,  diluted  alcohol  has  been  ordered  in  the 
past.  It  is  now  retained  for  the  extract,  but  the  fluid  extract  is 
directed  to  be  made  with  3  volumes  alcohol,  1  volume  water.  Di- 
luted alcohol  has  always  been  conceded  to  be  the  best  menstruum  for 
both  arnica  root  and  flowers,  and  the  reason  for  the  change  is  not 
apparent. 
The  menstruum  for  Fluid  Extract  of  Belladonna  root  is  changed 
from  alcohol  to  alcohol  4  vols.,  water  1,  and  for  Buchu  alcohol  is 
directed  instead  of  alcohol  2  parts,  water  1  part,  of  1880.  For 
Fluid  Extract  of  Calumba,  3  vols,  of  alcohol  and  1  vol.  water  dis- 
places diluted  alcohol ;  a  commendable  change.  The  alcoholic 
strength  of  the  menstruum  is  increased  also  in  Fluid  Extract  of  Chi- 
rata,  and  it  is  to  be  observed  that  glycerin  has  been  omitted  in 
this  and  in  the  fluid  extracts  of  chimaphila,  leptandra,  matico  and 
sarsaparilla,  but  has  been  added  in  fluid  extracts  of  chestnut  leaves, 
hamamelis  and  hydrastis. 
In  the  Pharmacopoeia  of  1880,  Fluid  Extract  of  Cypripedium  was 
directed  to  be  prepared  with  alcohol;  that  of  1890,  directs  diluted 
alcohol,  a  menstruum  the  same  as  used  for  fluid  extract  of  valerian, 
3  vols,  alcohol,  I  vol.  water,  would  have  been  better.  In  Extract  of 
Conium,  and  in  fluid  extracts  of  conium  and  ergot,  acetic  acid  is 
directed  in  place  of  the  hydrochloric  acid,  1880. 
The  U.  S.  P.,  1880,  unsatisfactory  formula  for  Fluid  Extract  of  Ipe- 
cac, is  dismissed  and  a  menstruum  of  3  vols,  alcohol  to  1  vol.  water 
directed,  this  being  one  of  the  suggestions  of  Mr.  A.  Robbins  that 
has  been  adopted. 
Fluid  Extract  of  Malt  disappears  entirely  from  the  Pharmacopoeia, 
but  not  from  use.    An  official  fluid  extract  with  fixed  diastasic 
