PREPARATION  OF  RESIN  OF  PODOPHYLLUM. 
133 
ON  THE  PREPARATION  OF  RESIN  OF  PODOPHYLLUM. 
By  Edward  Parrish. 
Under  the  head  of  Eclectic  Pharmacy I  contributed  an  essay 
to  this  Journal  in  1851,  (vol.  xxiii.  page  329,)  detailing  a  few 
experiments  on  the  preparation  of  the  Podophyllin  of  com- 
merce and  other  impure  resins  which  were  then  but  little  known, 
being  prepared  by  a  very  few  manufacturers,  and  prescribed 
almost  exclusively  by  the  so-called  Eclectic  practitioners.  Since 
that  time  several  of  these  preparations  have  gained  a  celebrity 
in  the  profession  both  in  this  country  and  Europe,  which  vindi- 
cates their  claim  to  a  place  in  the  Pharmacopoeia,  and  we  may 
accordingly  look  for  representatives  of  this  new  class  of  phar- 
maceutical products  in  the  forthcoming  edition  of  our  National 
Standard.  Having  been  lately  engaged  upon  this  resin,  for  the 
double  purpose  of  trying  a  formula  and  furnishing  a  characteris- 
tic sample  of  the  product,  I  have  noted  some  of  my  observations 
and  results  which  are  now  presented  for  what  they  are  worth,  to 
those  who  may  have  occasion  to  use  them. 
The  process  for  resin  of  podophyllum  consists  in  exhausting 
May  apple  root  with  strong  alcohol,  concentrating  the  tincture, 
and  throwing  it  into  water  to  precipitate  the  resin;  collecting, 
washing  and  drying  this.  Upon  each  of  these  points  a  few  com- 
ments are  offered. 
1st.  Exhausting  the  root. — In  my  former  experiments  I  used 
the  steam  displacement  apparatus  invented  by  the  late  C.  Augus- 
tus Smith,  and  found  alcohol  at  the  boiling  point,  used  in  this 
way,  to  produce  a  very  concentrated  tincture,  though  the  use  of 
the  steam  displacer  involves  a  good  deal  of  unnecessary  trouble 
in  small  operations.  For  treating  one  or  two  pounds  of  the 
powdered  root,  which  should  be  fine,  a  large  funnel  is  convenient ; 
the  powder  being  moistened  with  a  very  little,  say  six  fluid  ounces 
of  alcohol  to  the  pound,  and  poured  upon  a  plug  of  tow  or  cotton 
in  the  apex  of  the  funnel,  well  shaken  and  packed  after  each 
addition.  On  a  further  addition  of  alcohol  the  tincture  passes" 
drop  by  drop,  very  strong,  so  that  a  pound  may  be  thoroughly 
exhausted  with  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  pints.  The  proper 
point  to  desist  from  the  addition  of  the  menstruum  is  conveniently 
