26 
Tinctures  of  Potent  Remedies. 
(  Aru.  Jour.  I'harm 
i     January,  1903. 
of  extractive.  One  thousand  grammes  measured  1,106  c.c.  and  I 
litre,  at  25 °  C,  weighed  903  grammes.  The  average  dose  would 
be  about  double  that  of  the  present  tincture,  so  that  instead  of 
giving  from  0-30  to  roo  c.c.  we  could  give  from  0  50  to  2-00  c.c. 
Tincture  of  Nux  Vomica. — It  is  well  known  that  the  present  U.S. P. 
directs  that  this  tincture  be  made  from  a  solid  extract,  and  has 
standardized  the  same  to  correspond  to  about  0*30  per  cent,  of  total 
alkaloids.  This  is  admittedly  a  rather  roundabout  way  of  accomplish, 
ing  a  simple  feat,  and  has  resulted  in  the  rather  peculiar  complica- 
tion that  this  preparation  differs  probably  more  than  any  other  one 
in  appearance  and  other  physical  properties. 
The  international  standard  tincture  of  nux  vomica  is  to  be  made 
from  a  drug  containing  2-5  per  cent,  of  total  alkaloids.  This  quality 
of  nux  vomica  is  readily  obtained  and  a  very  acceptable  preparation, 
completely  representing  the  active  qualities  of  the  drug,  is  easily 
made  by  following  the  directions  and  using  the  menstruum  indi- 
cated for  the  international  standard  preparation.  Nux  vomica  lost 
7  per  cent,  on  drying  to  constant  weight,  while  after  exhausting 
with  70  per  cent,  alcohol  and  drying,  it  was  found  to  have  lost  23-5 
per  cent,  or  a  net  loss  of  165  grammes  for  each  100  of  the  drug 
employed.  One  thousand  grammes  of  the  tincture  measured  1,108-5 
c.c,  and  I  litre  weighed  896  grammes  at  25 0  C.  The  average  dose 
of  the  international  standard  preparation  would  be  from  0-50  to  200 
c.c.  instead  of  0-40  to  1-50  c.c,  as  at  present. 
Tincture  of  Opium. — The  International  Conference  adopted  a 
powdered  opium  with  a  morphine  content  of  10  per  cent.  This 
would  make  an  average  difference  of  about  one-third  in  the  U.S. P. 
preparations  of  opium.  The  proposed  tincture  of  opium  is  stan- 
dardized to  contain  1  per  cent,  of  morphine.  This  change  would 
increase  the  average  dose  of  this  tincture  to  from  0-50  to  2*oo  c.c.  for 
the  international  tincture,  instead  of  from  0  40  to  1-50  for  the  pres- 
ent U.S. P.  preparation.  Powdered  opium  appears  to  contain  but 
little  extraneous  moisture,  the  average,  even  on  long-continued  heat- 
ing, being  but  2  per  cent.,  the  drug  losing  a  total  of  68  per  cent,  to 
the  prescribed  menstruum  of  70  per  cent,  alcohol,  or  a  net  extrac- 
tive of  66  per  cent.;  1,000  grammes  of  the  international  standard, 
standardized  tincture  measured  1,108  c.c,  while  I  litre  of  the  same 
at  25 0  C.  weighed  908  grammes. 
Tincture  of  Strophantus. — This  preparation,  like  that  of  canthar- 
