EXTRACTUM  COLOCYNTHIDIS  ALCOHOLICUM,  U.  S.  P.  19 
effects.  This  has  doubtless  arisen  from  not  graduating  the  doses 
to  suit  its  increased  power,  compared  with  the  old  extract,  and 
also  from  deficiency  in  the  carminative  power  of  the  corrigent 
cardamom.  Although  Dr.  S.  originated  the  mixed  powder  re- 
cipe, he  subsequently  changed  his  view  and  urged  on  the  Com- 
mittee the  propriety  of  first  forming  an  extract,  drying  and  re- 
powdering,  for  the  reason  that  the  soap  operates  favorably  in 
modifying  the  aloetic  and  resinous  ingredients.  In  querying 
in  reference  to  this  point  and  to  the  use  of  commercial  scam- 
mony  resin,  in  my  letter  to  him,  he  replies  as  follows  : 
"  I  always  make  my  resin  of  scammony  from  the  commercial 
scammony,  and  of  late  can  always  get  this  good,  75  to  80  per 
cent.  I  have  never  used  the  Mc Andrew's  resin,  and  never  will 
until  the  Pharmacopoeia  orders  it.  My  objection  to  it  is  the  same 
that  I  should  have  if  it  was  proposed  to  use  extract  of  lettuce  in- 
stead of  lactucarium.  One  may  be  as  good  as  the  other,  but 
we  don't  know  it.  And  if  we  are  to  substitute  at  all,  I  favor 
resin  of  May  apple  instead  of  scammony,  that  is  for  the  Pharma- 
copoeia. 
"  I  do  not  powder  the  ingredients  for  the  compound  extract 
except  the  cardamom  seed,  but  simply  have  them  all  dry  and 
brittle,  so  that  they  might  be  powdered.  I  then  melt  them 
together  (without  moistening)  and  when  a  smooth  uniform  hot 
mixture  is  made,  I  stir  in  the  cardamom  powder  after  the  steam 
is  shut  off  the  kettle.  I  still  think  this  important  for  the  rea- 
sons I  gave  the  Committee,  and  the  chief  reason  is  that  the 
soap  and  aloes,  when  heated  together,  chemically  combine,  and 
form  a  soluble  compound,  or  at  least  more  soluble  than  the 
resins  would  be  uncombined.  Beside  this  it  makes  a  much 
nicer  and  more  artistic  preparation,  and  is  better  pharmacy  as 
well  as  better  therapeutics,  notwithstanding  that  you  all  thought 
otherwise.  My  practice  and  information  has  also  confirmed 
my  proposal  to  increase  the  proportion  of  aromatics,  which  you 
rejected.  Most  of  those  who  use  the  comp.  ext.  most  intelli- 
gently combine  it  with  capsicum.  And  I  think  I  may  safely 
say  I  have  lost  the  sale  of  hundreds  of  pounds  of  it  through  its 
tendency  to  gripe,  which  is  no  fault  of  mine  but  of  the  Com 
mittee.    Those  who  know  how  to  combine  it  use  and  value  it 
