30 
Pharmacy  of  the  Pomegranate. 
f  Km.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t       Jan.,  1884. 
tical  preparation  of  this  bark,  which,  while  possessing  the  full  activity 
of  the  drug,  is  at  the  same  time  free  from  the  nauseous  taste  and  the 
unpleasant  effects  alluded  to.  Such  a  preparation,  I  believe  I  have 
succeeded  in  making.  I  do  not  wish  to  trouble  the  meeting  with  the 
various  steps  taken  in  working  out  the  problem,  nor  with  particulars 
of  unsuccessful  experiments  in  the  direction  indicated,  but  will  at  once 
lay  before  you  the  details  of  the  process  finally  adopted. 
Six  ounces  of  the  coarsely  powered  root-bank  are  digested  three 
successive  times  with  48  fluidounces  of  water  at  160°  F.,  previously 
acidified  with  a  few  drops  of  acetic  acid,  each  time  for  about  twelve 
hours,  during  which  the  mixture  should  be  frequently  agitated  and  the 
temperature  maintained  at  or  near  the  point  given.  The  strained 
infusions,  measuring  in  all  nearly  140  fluidounces,  [are  united,  and 
gradually  mixed  with  solution  of  sugar  of  lead  until  no  further  preci- 
pitate is  formed  on  testing  filtered  portions;  the  whole  is  then  filtered, 
"the  slight  excess  of  lead  removed  from  the  filtrate  by  a  current  of 
washed  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  the  mixture  warmed  for  some  time  to 
expel  the  excess  of  the  gas  and  again  filtered,  and  the  perfectly  clear 
liquor  evaporated  on  a  water-bath  to  the  consistence  of  a  syrup,  at  a 
temperature  not  exceeding  140°  F.  Evaporation  in  vacuo  would 
probably  be  better  still ;  but  this  I  have  not  tried.  Finally  the  small 
quantity  of  residue  left  is  mixed  with  syrup  of  orange  peel  sufficient  to 
produce  a  draught  of  about  2  fluidounces.  This  draught  represents 
a  dose  for  an  adult,  and  should  be  taken  at  once,  first  thing  in  the 
morning,  the  patient  abstaining  from  food  and  keeping  quiet  for  about 
four  hours  after  the  administration.  A  diet  of  meat  and  fish,  without 
bread  or  farinaceous  food  of  any  kind,  should  be  observed  for  the  two 
days  preceding  the  cure,  and  on  the  last  day  no  food  whatever  should 
be  taken  after  dinner.  During  this  afternoon  it  is  also  advisable  to 
clear  the  bowels  by  means  of  a  mild  purgative ;  if  then  the  draught 
be  taken  at  about  two  or  three  o'clock  the  following  morning  and  sleep 
ao-ain  resorted  to  after  its  administration,  the  patient  will  have  done  all 
he  can  to  ensure  success. 
In  eight  out  of  nine  cases  in  which  the  efficacy  of  this  preparation 
was  tested,  the  entire  tapeworm  was  expelled  within  five  hours  after  the 
consumption  of  the  draught,  and  in  one  case  only  success  was  not 
complete.  The  eight  cases  comprise  three  of  Tamia  solium,  and  five  of 
T.  mediocannellata.  In  one  of  the  latter  instances  not  the  slightest 
care  as  regards  diet  was  observed,  and,  contrary  to  all  instructions,  the 
