EXTRACTUM  COLOCYNTHIDIS  ALCOHOLICUM,  U.  S.  P.  15 
ON  EXTRACTUM  COLOCYNTHIDIS  ALCOHOLICUM,  U.  S.  P. 
By  William  Procter,  J r. 
In  the  formula  for  this  preparation  48  troyounces  of  colo- 
cynth is  directed  to  be  deprived  of  its  seeds,  ground  and  treated 
with  diluted  alcohol,  first  by  maceration  and  expression  and 
afterwards  by  percolation,  until  two  gallons  of  tincture  is  ob- 
tained, which  is  then  distilled  to  recover  ten  pints  of  alcoholic 
liquid,  the  residual  liquid  in  the  still  being  evaporated  to  dry- 
ness and  powdered.  Thus  made,  the  product  should  weigh 
seven  troyounces. 
Having  occasion  to  treat  48  troyounces  of  colocynth  in 
making  the  compound  extract,  it  was  deprived  of  seeds  and 
weighed  12  troyounces ;  this  was  ground,  macerated  several 
days  in  five  pints  of  diluted  alcohol  and  strongly  expressed,  to 
get  four  pints  of  liquid ;  the  residue,  packed  closely  in  a  perco- 
lator, was  treated  slowly  with  diluted  alcohol  till  five  pints  had 
passed,  or  until  the  passing  liquid  was  but  slightly  bitter.  The 
alcohol  was  recovered,  the  residue  evaporated  to  dryness  and 
powdered,  when  it  weighed  three  and  a  quarter  troy  ounces,  about 
6*8  per  cent. 
This  result  occasioning  some  surprise,  four  troyounces  of  the 
same  lot  of  colocynth  was  treated  ;  the  proportion  of  pulp  was 
a  little  larger,  and  the  whole  drug,  unbroken  seeds  and  all,  was 
moistened  with  diluted  alcohol,  packed  and  percolated  directly 
with  diluted  alcohol,  until  the  fall  pharmacopoeia  quantity  of 
tincture  had  passed.  This,  on  evaporation,  yielded  200  grains  of 
extract,  equivalent  to  9' 6  per  cent.  In  the  latter  case  the  seeds 
were  treated  with  the  pulp,  without  bruising,  and  a  larger 
quantity  of  menstruum  used  than  in  the  first  operation,  yet 
not  coming  up  to  the  pharmacopoeia  quantity.  Seeing  this 
variation  in  yield  would  have  a  marked  influence  on  the  com- 
pound extract,  it  occurred  to  me  to  seek  the  experience  of  Dr. 
E.  K.  Squibb  in  regard  to  the  yield  of  simple  extract,  knowing 
that  the  manipulation  of  the  officinal  processes  was  in  the 
main  of  his  suggestion,  though  modified  somewhat  in  the  Com- 
mittee of  Kevision.  I  accordingly  wrote  to  him  for  a  copy  of 
his  results,  with  permission  to  use  them  in  this  paper,  which 
he  cheerfully  and  very  freely  gave  me  as  folio ws  : 
