Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
April,  1899.  J 
Pharmacopceial  Preparations. 
163 
with  enough  menstruum  reserved  from  the  original  quantity  to  make 
up  the  measure.  The  whole  operation  need  not  take  more  than  two 
or  three  hours,  and  the  results  are  entirely  satisfactory.  This  has 
been  proven  by  comparative  weighing  of  residue  on  preparation  of 
the  two  tinctures  by  both  processes. 
Tincture  of  Iodine. — Reduce  the  iodine  to  a  uniform  coarse  pow- 
der. Use  a  glass  funnel  and  press  a  plug  of  absorbent  cotton  tightly 
into  the  neck ;  lay  over  this  an  evenly  cut  piece  of  white  filter  paper. 
Introduce  the  iodine  into  the  funnel,  and  add  alcohol  carefully. 
Should  all  the  required  alcohol  be  added  and  the  iodine  not  all 
dissolved,  reintroduce  the  weak  tincture  and  continue  until  the 
iodine  is  all  dissolved.  By  careful  preparation  of  the  funnel,  how- 
ever, I  have  always  succeeded  in  completing  solution  by  first  treat- 
ment. My  attention  was  called  to  this  method  by  our  fellow, 
member  Mr.  John  H.  Hahn. 
Tincture  Myrrh. — >By  far  the  most  important  of  any  of  the  various 
resinous  tinctures  is  that  of  Myrrh.  The  process  of  percolation  is 
beautifully  adapted  to  the  making  of  this  important  tincture.  Re- 
liable and  satisfactory  results  are  always  obtained,  and  the  advan- 
tages are  many,  saving  of  time  and  cleanliness  being  not  the  least 
important.  This  process  was  taught  me  by  my  old  friend  and  pre- 
ceptor, Mr.  E.  M.  Boring,  he  being  the  originator  of  it,  I  may  here 
add  that  from  this  preparation  and  the  successful  conduct  of  it  I  got 
the  idea  of  extending  the  method  to  all  the  resinous  tinctures  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia.  Prepare  a  percolator  in  the  usual  way.  Put  in 
the  myrrh  (previously  reduced  carefully  to  a  uniform  coarse  powder, 
say  16  to  18)  without  moistening,  pack  gently,  and  add  menstruum 
until  the  liquid  wets  the  cotton  of  the  percolator;  close  the  lower 
orifice  of  the  percolator,  and  allow  the  mixture  to  stand  twenty- 
four  hours,  then  proceed  slowly  at  first  and  more  rapidly  toward 
the  end  of  the  process.  An  examination  of  the  gummy  residue 
will  convince  anyone  of  the  reliability  of  the  method. 
Camphor  Watered,  Aromatic  Waters. — Camphor  water  can  always 
be  had  in  quantity  and  without  the  least  trouble  if  several  fair-sized 
pieces  of  camphor  are  weighted  with  fragments  of  glass  rod  or 
selected  clean  stones  and  immersed  in  a  suitable  quantity  of  dis- 
tilled water.  After  a  few  days'  standing  the  water  will  be  found 
to  be  saturated.  The  process  is  that  of  circulatory  displacement ; 
those  particles  of  water  next  the  camphor,  becoming  saturated, 
