ON  SOME  PREPARATIONS  OF  ASSAFCETIDA. 
387 
foreign  matter,  suitable  for  their  preparation,  therefore,  in  order 
to  make  their  manufacture  easy  and  a  perfect  success,  it  is 
necessary  that  there  should  be  some  means  proposed  to  purify 
it,  and  bring  it  to  a  suitable  condition  for  the  purpose.  To  ac- 
complish this  object,  after  repeated  experiments,  the  writer  has 
adopted  the  following  plan,  which  will  free  the  drug  from  all 
coarse  foreign  particles  which  would  be  likely  to  prove  ob- 
jectionable : 
B.  Assafcetidae,  (carefully  selected  tears,)  3j. 
Alcohol,  sp.  gr.  -809,  f^iv. 
Cut  the  assafoetida  into  small  pieces,  and  rub  it  in  a  mortar 
until  reduced  to  a  smooth  paste.  In  cold  weather,  to  facilitate 
this  operation,  a  few  drops  of  the  alcohol  may  be  added,  as  found 
necessary  ;  then  add  the  remainder  of  the  menstruum  in  small 
portions  at  a  time,  with  constant  rubbing,  until  a  smooth  and 
uniform  mixture  is  attained,  which  must  be  strained  through 
muslin  into  a  shallow  vessel  with  a  good  evaporating  surface. 
Then  set  it  aside  in  a  place  favorable  to  evaporation,  and  allow 
it  to  evaporate  spontaneously,  with  occasional  stirring,  to  about 
the  consistence  of  thick  honey.  This  should  be  immediately 
transferred  to  a  tightly  covered  jar,  and  labelled  "  purified  assa- 
foetida," and  preserved  for  use.  When  kept  a  long  time,  it 
should  be  well  stirred  with  a  spatula  before  being  used.  When 
prepared  in  large  quantity,  it  should  be  put  up  in  ounce  jars, 
kept  in  a  cool  place,  and  the  air  excluded  as  much  as  possible. 
To  prepare  assafoetida  suppositories  of  medium  strength  : 
R.  Assafcetidae  purificatae,  ^iij. 
Liquoris  potassae,  gttxxij. 
01.  theobromse,  sv. 
Rub  the  liq.  potassae  in  a  mortar  with  the  purified  assafoetida, 
until  well  and  smoothly  mixed,  then  gradually  add  the  butter  of 
cacao  in  small  portions  at  a  time,  and  incorporate  thoroughly, 
until  about  one-half  is  added  ;  then  add  the  remainder,  which 
may  not  be  so  carefully  mixed  ;  then  proceed  to  prepare  one 
dozen  suppositories  in  accordance  with  directions  given  in  the 
writer's  essay  upon  suppositories,  on  page  225  in  May  number 
of  the  Journal  of  Pharmacy.  They  should  be  cast  in  moulds  of 
35  grs.  (cacao  butter)  capacity. 
