514  PHARMACY  OF  THE  CINCHONAS. 
yet  accessible,  even  when  these  have  been  made  harder  by  the 
addition  of  dry  powder  to  the  extract,  they  readily  disintegrate 
in  a  few  moments  in  the  mouth  or  in  water,  and  they  would  pro- 
bably be  found  to  be  always  promptly  and  easily  soluble  in  the 
stomach,  since  the  Glycerin  is  well  known  to  be  not  only  a  pre- 
servative and  a  solvent,  but  also  an  efficient  agent  to  prevent 
hardening  by  either  oxidation  or  dessication.  Indeed,  the  pills 
made  from  this  extract  seem  to  have  the  contrary  tendency  of 
becoming  moist  and  soft  in  the  hot  damp  weather,  and  this  may 
prove  an  objection  to  the  quantity  of  Glycerin  used. 
The  principal  objection,  however,  to  the  general  use  of  such 
an  extract  will  be  its  cost,  and  the  facility  with  which  it  may  be 
cheapened  without  easy  detection,  since  Cinchonas  of  low  grade 
yield  nearly  as  much  extract  as  the  higher.  The  neat  cost  of  7680 
grains  (I63.),  or  practically  1J-  lbs.  Av.  of  good  quality  Cinchona 
in  powder,  to  the  pharmacist,  can  rarely  be  less  than  $2.25  to 
$2.75.  The  21  or  22  i%.  of  alcohol  actually  expended  can 
hardly  cost  less  than  60  cents,  and  costs  75  cents  if  the  duty  be 
honestly  paid,  making  a  total  of  about  $3.00  for  five  troyounces, 
or  about  $8.75  per  lb.  Av.,  without  estimating  for  either  the 
apparatus,  fuel,  time,  labor,  skill  or  profit.  There  are,  however, 
a  certain  proportion  of  cases  requiring  Cinchona  tonics,  where 
the  bitterness  of  any  liquid  preparation  which  is  strong  enough 
to  be  useful  is  so  disagreeable,  and  even  nauseating,  as  to  obstruct 
or  prevent  the  tonic  effect ;  and  these  cases  may  render  such  an 
extract,  or  the  one  to  be  next  considered,  important. 
Extr -actum  Cinchonce  Composition — Compound  Extract  of  Cin- 
chona. 
Take  of  Cinchona,  either  Red  or  Yellow,  in  fine  powder,  six- 
teen troyounces. 
Glycerin,  one  troyounce  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
grains. 
Aromatic  Powder,  one  troyounce. 
Alcohol,  six  pints  and  ten  fluidounces. 
Water,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Mix  the  Cinchona  with  thirty  fluidounces  of  the  Alcohol,  by 
thoroughly  stirring  them  together  in  a  proper  vessel,  and  pour 
