ERGOT. 
41 
by  the  formula  as  it  is.  The  more  important  preparation — the 
fluid  extract — is  made  by  exhausting  sixteen  troyounces  of  Ergot 
with  diluted  alcohol  acidulated  with  acetic  acid,  reserving  the 
first  twelve  fluidounces  of  the  percolate,  evaporating  the  re- 
mainder to  four  fluidounces,  mixing  the  two  solutions  and 
filtering.  According  to  the  investigations  of  Mr.  Wenzell,  er- 
gotic  acid — the  organic  acid  of  Ergot,  with  which  its  alkaloids 
mostly  are  combined — is  volatile.  Viewed  in  the  light  of  this 
fact,  the  propriety  of  using  an  acidulated  menstruum  in  the  pre- 
paration of  the  fluid  extract  is  apparent,  and  I  do  not  see  that, 
pharmaceutically,  the  formula  can  be  improved.  I  can  only 
suggest  an  economical  modification  of  it,  as  follows  : 
Take  of  Ergot,  finely  ground,  and  as  much  of  it  as  possible 
passed  through  a  No.  60  sieve,  sixteen  troyounces. 
Water,  acidulated  with  acetic  acid  in  the  proportion 
of  two  fluidrachms  to  the  pint,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Moisten  first  the  fine  powder  with  the  menstruum  and  pack  it 
in  a  glass  percolator  with  moderate  pressure ;  in  the  same  way 
treat  the  coarser  powder  and  proceed  with  the  percolation  till 
three  pints  have  been  obtained  ;  evaporate  this  on  a  water  bath 
to  twelve  fluidounces  ;  mix  with  it  four  fluidounces  of  alcohol  and 
filter.  In  this  process  it  will  be  observed  that  only  the  preserva- 
tive influence  of  alcohol  is  called  into  requisition — the  extraction, 
of  the  drug  being  accomplished  wholly  by  means  of  the  acidulated 
water.  A  saving  of  nearly  a  dollar  a  pint  is  thus  effected,  and 
without,  I  think,  any  detriment  to  the  therapeutic  value  of  the 
preparation,  for,  as  is  well  knowTn,  water  is  a  complete  solvent  of 
the  active  principles  of  Ergot,  and,  though  water  alone  cannot  be 
used  as  a  menstruum  on  account  of  the  ready  decomposition  of 
a  purely  aqueous  solution,  yet,  when  the  water  has  been  previ- 
ously acidulated,  the  stability  of  the  percolate  is  insured  for  a 
period  long  enough  to  permit  its  concentration  and  subsequent 
admixture  with,  alcohol,  after  which  its  permanence  is  secured. 
It  would  be  prudent,  however,  to  prepare  the  yearly  supply 
during  the  cold  weather  of  winter,  as  then  all  risk  of  loss  would 
be  avoided.  The.  preliminary  extraction  of  the  fixed  oil,  aside 
from  facilitating  the  pulverization  of  the  drug,  does  not  seem  to 
be  otherwise  of  advantage.    Properly  packed,  the  percolation 
