PHARMACY  OF  THE  CINCHONAS. 
515 
the  mixture  into  a  glass  funnel  prepared  for  percolation.  Then 
pour  the  remainder  of  the  Alcohol  on  top,  as  required,  and  follow 
this  with  water  until  the  percolate  becomes  cloudy,  and  makes  a 
precipitate  in  the  receiving  vessel.  Then  distil  off  the  Alcohol 
from  the  percolate  by  means  of  a  water  bath,  and  stir  the  residue 
on  the  water  bath  until  it  becomes  a  thick  extract  weighing  four 
ounces.  To  this  add  first  the  Glycerin,  and  heat  the  mixture, 
with  stirring,  until  a  perfectly  uniform  mixture  is  obtained. 
Then  add  the  Aromatic  Powder,  and  again  stir  very  thoroughly. 
The  finished  extract  should  then  weigh  six  and  a  quarter  troy- 
ounces,  or  less,  and  each  grain  represents  about  two  and  a  half 
grains  of  the  Cinchona. 
This  compound  extract  is  a  very  elegant  preparation,  and  a 
therapeutic  alternative  for  the  fluid  extract  with  aromatics,  now 
much  used,  and  to  be  mentioned  hereafter.  The  working 
details  are  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  the  simple  extract.  As 
good  Aromatic  Powder  is  very  essential  to  this  preparation, 
that  ingredient  will  be  considered  subsequently  in  another  con- 
nection. This  compound  extract  is  about  one-sixth  weaker  in 
alkaloids,  but  this  deficiency  is  so  nearly  counterbalanced  by  the 
tonic  and  stimulant  effect  of  good  aromatics  upon  the  relaxed  and 
enfeebled  conditions  of  the  stomach  so  generally  found  where  such 
tonics  are  required,  that,  like  the  wine  in  which  they  are  com- 
monly directed  to  be  taken,  they  are  not  simply  excipients,  but 
powerful  auxiliaries.  The  dose  of  this  extract  may  therefore  be 
considered  as  about  the  same  as  the  simple  extract — say  one  or 
two  three-grain  pills  twice  or  thrice  a  day,  just  before  meals, 
and  followed  by  half  a  glass  of  good  wine,  or  the  wine  taken 
with  the  early  part  of  the  meal.  When  preparations  of  iron 
are  also  indicated,  the  medicines  should  be  alternated,  but  never 
mixed — the  one  being  taken  before  one  meal,  and  the  other 
before  the  next.  This  plan,  too  much  neglected,  simplifies  pre- 
scriptions, and  avoids  all  question  of  incompatibility. 
Extr actum  Cinchona?  Fluidum — Fluid  Extract  of  Cinchona. 
Take  of  Cinchona,  either  Red  or  Yellow,  in  fine  powder,  six- 
teen troyounces. 
