342  Pharmaceutical  Uses  of  Extract  of  Malt.{^m-J^-1f9h^cm- 
that  the  dispensing  pharmacist  has  availed  himself  to  any  extent  of 
its  advantages  in  preparing  mixtures  when  insoluble  substances  are 
to  be  suspended.  I  was  first  led  to  experiment  with  it  on  being 
asked  by  a  physician  to  prepare  an  emulsion  of  naphthalin  and  to 
make  it  as  pleasant  as  possible.  The  slight  solubility  of  naphthalin 
in  water  renders  most  of  its  mixtures  very  unpleasant,  and  after  try- 
ing many  experiments  it  occurred  to  me  that  extract  of  malt  might 
be  used,  it  not  seeming  to  possess  sufficient  medicinal  activity  to 
cause  its  use  to  be  objectionable  in  the  very  small  proportion  neces- 
sary to  form  a  good  mixture.  After  rubbing  the  naphthalin  in  a 
mortar  to  a  very  fine  powder,  a  definite  quantity  of  malt  extract 
is  then  added  gradually  and  triturated  until  a  perfectly  smooth  mix- 
ture is  obtained.  The  substance  is  now  suspended,  but  the  mixture 
is  too  thick  to  pour  well  from  a  bottle ;  it  is  then  diluted  by  the 
addition  of  an  equal  volume  of  syrup  of  wild  cherry,  which 
not  only  renders  the  mixture  fluid  enough  to  pour  out  easily,  but 
also  imparts  to  it  an  agreeable  flavor.  The  higher  specific  gravity 
of  the  malt  extract  causes  the  particles  of  the  naphthalin  to  remain 
suspended,  and  its  viscidity,  even  when  diluted  one-half,  is  sufficient  to 
prevent  it  from  floating  on  the  top  until  after  standing  for  some  time, 
when  slight  agitation  will  restore  a  uniform  mixture.  In  an  emul- 
sion of  naphthalin  with  mucilage  of  acacia  a  very  large  proportion 
of  acacia  must  be  used,  and  after  standing  for  a  few  hours  the 
naphthalin  will  be  seen  at  the  bottom  of  the  bottle,  and  it  is  only 
after  the  most  vigorous  shaking  that  a  smooth  mixture  can  be 
restored  if  at  all — it  being  very  difficult  to  dislodge  the  sediment. 
Compressed  tablets  of  naphthalin  are  prepared,  but  on  account  of  its 
bulkiness,  and  the  large  dose  sometimes  used,  it  is  not  a  substance 
exactly  suited  to  that  form  of  administration,  if  by  any  means  a  pre- 
paration can  be  obtained  that  will  to  some  degree  mask  the  strong 
odor  and  taste. 
In  extract  of  malt  it  seems  to  be  less  soluble  than  in  syrup,  or 
mucilage  of  acacia ;  the  mixture  just  described  having  scarcely 
any  of  the  odor  and  even  less  of  the  taste  of  naphthalin  unless  held 
on  the  tongue  until  it  has  been  partly  dissolved  by  the  fluids  of  the 
mouth.  It  was  not  the  purpose  of  the  physician  to  administer  a 
medicinal  dose  of  malt,  hence  only  a  sufficient  quantity  was  used  to 
make  a  satisfactory  preparation — five  grains  of  finely  powdered 
naphthalin  being  contained  in  one  fluid  drachm. 
