Am.  Jorm.  Pharm.  > 
Feb.  1,  1873.  j" 
Extracts  containing  Chlorophyll. 
83 
remains  in  the  extract.  It  is  not  improbable  that  some  loss  of  alka- 
loid takes  place  in  the  preparation  of  extract  of  henbane ;  and  .it  is 
most  desirable  that  after  coagulating  and  separating  the  albumen,  the 
evaporation  should  be  carried  on  at  the  lowest  temperature  possible. 
As  far  as  my  experience  goes  I  think  that  a  temperature  not  exceed- 
ing 120°  F.  should  be  used,  and  that  the  evaporation  of  the  juice 
should  be  effected  in  shallow  evaporating  pans  exposed  to  a.  current  of 
dry  air,  until  the  proper  consistence  is  obtained. 
It  is  undoubtedly  established  that  the  action  of  aconitia,  atropia, 
and  conia  are  identical  with  the  medicinal  properties  of  the  plants 
from  which  they  are  extracted  ;  and  it  is  not  improbable  that  hyos- 
cyamia  will  be  found  to  possess  the  properties  of  henbane  in  the  high- 
est degree. 
The  objections  which  I  anticipate  will  be  offered  to  any  alteration 
in  the  preparation  of  these  substances,  is  the  absence  of  the  accus- 
tomed color,  the  increased  strength,  and  possibly  the  greater  deli- 
quescence. 
My  answer  to  the  first  objection  is  that  in  the  case  of  these  so-called 
green  extracts,  it  is  not  so  very  easy  to  distinguish  between  one  and 
another,  as  exemplified  by  the  answers  of  the  candidates  who  come  up 
for  examination  in  pharmacy.  I  venture  to  state  that  it  will  not  be 
more  difficult  to  distinguish  these  proposed  purified  extracts  than  it  is 
with  those  already  in  use,  for,  although  the  color  will  be  different, 
their  characteristic  odors  will  be  retained. 
To  the  next  objection,  that  of  increased  strength,  any  inconve- 
nience which  might  arise  from  that  source  will  be  more  than  counter- 
balanced by  the  very  important  consideration  of  uniformity  of  strength 
of  these  preparations  ;  and  in  order  to  facilitate  the  use  of  these  pure 
extracts  I  might  be  allowed  to  suggest  their  employment  in  the  form 
of  liquid  extracts  ;  hemlock,  however,  should  be  excluded  on  account 
of  the  volatile  nature  of  its  alkaloid. 
In  order  to  prepare  these  fluid  extracts,  it  will  be  necessary  to  con- 
tinue the  evaporation  until  reduced  to  dryness,  before  they  are  con- 
verted into  the  fluid  state,  and  of  course  the  addition  of  about  a  fourth 
part  of  rectified  spirit  will  be  required  to  preserve  them.  I  have  not 
made  any  of  these  solutions,  therefore  am  not  prepared  to  say  of  what 
strength  they  should  be  made. 
They  would  be  more  definite  in  strength  than  their  corresponding 
tinctures,  they  would  cost  less,  and  the  ease  with  which  they  could  be 
