ECONOMY  IN  THE  USE  OF  ALCOHOL  IN  PERCOLATION. 
7 
Take  of  Podophyllum,  in  very  fine  powder,  forty-eight  troy- 
ounces, 
Alcohol,  five  pints, 
Muriatic  acid,  two  fluidrachms, 
Water,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Divide  the  powdered  Podophyllum  into  three  portions, — the 
first  of  twenty-four,  the  second  of  fourteen,  and  the  third  of  ten 
troyounces, — and  repercoiate  them  as  follows : 
Mix  the  first  portion  into  a  smooth  uniform  magma  with  two 
pints  of  the  alcohol,  cover  the  mixture  closely,  and  set  it  aside 
for  twelve  hours.  Then  stir  it  well,  pour  it  into  a  ten-inch 
funnel  properly  arranged  for  percolation,*  cover  the  surface  with 
a  disk  of  filtering  paper,  pour  on  it  two  pints  of  the  alcohol,  and 
cover  the  funnel  closely.  When  twenty-two  fluidounces  of  perco- 
late.shall  have  passed,  mix  this  with  the  second  portion  of  the 
powder  into  a  smooth  and  uniform  magma,  cover  it  closely,  and 
allow  it  to  stand  twelve  hours.  Then  stir  it  well,  pour  it  into  an 
eight-inch  funnel  arranged  for  percolation,  cover  the  surface  with 
a  disk  of  filtering  paper,  and  pour  on  it  the  percolate' from  the 
first  portion.  When  sixteen  fluidounces  of  percolate  shall  have 
passed  from  this  second  portion  of  the  powder,  mix  it  with  the 
third  and  last  portion  of  the  powder  into  a  smooth  and  uniform 
magma,  cover  it  closely,  and  allow  it  to  stand  twelve  hours. 
Then  stir  it  well,  pour  it  into  an  eight-inch  funnel  arranged  for 
percolation,  cover  the  surface  with  a  disk  of  filtering  paper,  and, 
keeping  the  funnel  covered  during  the  intervals,  pour  on  it  the 
percolate  from  the  second  portion,  as  it  is  required. 
When  the  last  of  the  alcohol  shall  have  disappeared  from  the 
surface  of  the  first  portion  of  the  powder,  pour  water  into  the 
funnel,  and  continue  the  percolation  with  water  until  three  pints 
and  ten  fluidounces  of  percolate  shall  have  been  received  from 
this  portion,  and  poured  on  the  second  portion.  When  the  last 
of  this  percolate  shall  have  disappeared  from  the  surface  of  the 
second  portion  of  the  powder,  pour  on  eight  fluidounces  of  the 
alcohol,  and  when  this  shall  have  also  disappeared,  pour  on  water, 
and  continue  the  percolation  with  water  until  three  and  a  half  pints 
*  See  paper  on  the  Pharmacy  of  the  Cinchonas,  page  410,  vol.  xxxix. 
