86 
Minutes  of  Pharmaceutical  Meetings.  { 
Am.  Jour.  Phabo. 
Feb.  1, 1873. 
As  a  class,  the  preparations  containing  alcohol  without  glycerin  were  con- 
sidered beautiful  preparations  and  representing  fully  the  medical  properties  of 
the  drugs  used.  , 
The  preparation  of  ergot  was  exhibited,  and  presented  the  characteristics 
fully,  having  the  odor  of  the  fresh  ergot.  His  experiments  with  ipecac  were  not 
successful ;  there  remained  a  considerable  amount  of  undissolved  resin  which 
glycerin  will  not  dissolve  ;  the  alcohol  seems  too  weak  to  dissolve  the  resin, 
and  the  finished  preparation  contains  one-half  glycerin.  Prof.  Maisch  had 
four  or  five  samples  perfectly  clear,  made  substantially  by  the  officinal  process* 
These  were  made  by  himself,  the  heat  carefully  regulated,  not  above  140°  ;  the 
powder  should  not  be  finer  than  60°.  In  this  preparation,  the  temperature  is 
of  great  importance. 
Mr.  Remington  said  that  the  ipecac  used  by  him  was  the  strongest  he  had 
ever  seen.  The  fluid  extract  of  wild  cherry  was  next  discussed,  as  being  made 
so  entirely  different  from  the  process  directed  in  the  last  Pharmacopoeia,  being 
percolated  with  water  and  stronger  alcohol. 
Professor  Maisch  made  some  general  remarks  about  the  fluid  extracts  in  the 
Pharmacopoeia,  stating  that  the  Committee  endeavored  to  make  these  formula? 
as  simple  as  possible,  that  they  might  be  understood  by  the  student  and  those 
of  little  experience  in  the  business.  The  processes  were  general  ones,  and 
were  found  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  profession,  based  on  the  experience 
of  those  best  acquainted  with  the  subject.  After  moistening  the  drug  with  the 
amount  of  menstruum  directed  and  adding  the  remainder,  the  soluble  portion  of 
the  drug  would  be  dissolved  in  a  very  concentrated  form  after  the  required  time 
for  maceration,  and  could  then  be  driven  out  by  the  addition  of  an  additional 
quantity  of  liquid.  The  fluid  extract  of  wild  cherry  was  in  no  wise  intended  to 
take  the  place  of  the  syrup.  Mr.  Remington  recommended  particularly  keeping 
the  percolator  closely  covered,  otherwise  during  the  four  days  maceration, 
fissures  would  be  formed  in  the  drug,  and  the  extract  will  be  an  imperfect  one. 
Mr.  Remington  exhibited  a  retort  stand,  modelled  by  Dr.  Squibb,  which  is 
a  very  convenient  appliance  for  the  druggist,  having  conveniences  for  holding 
a  lamp,  funnels  and  various  sized  dishes,  &c. 
Mr.  Boring  had  samples  of  cinnamon  and  cassia  water,  made  from  the  oils  by 
distillation,  and  by  the  ordinary  process  of  dissolving  the  oil  by  the  aid  of  car- 
bonate of  magnesia.  The  water  prepared  from  Ceylon  cinnamon  by  distillation 
seemed  to  be  the  most  fragrant  and  most  characteristic. 
Prof.  Maisch  exhibited  a  sample  of  what  was  offered  as  cultivated  dandelion 
root,  which,  upon  examination,  proved  to  be  chicory. 
Mr.  A.  P.  Brown,  of  Camden,  N.  J.,  gave  a  formula,  as  follows,  for  preparing- 
Goulard's  cerate  ; 
Benzoinated  lard,    ......  ^viiiss. 
Melt  the  wax  and  lard  in  a  water-bath,  add  the  solution  subacetate  of  lead 
gradually,  digest  for  fifteen  minutes,  stirring  it  constantly,  remove  the  mixture 
from  the  bath,  stir  it  till  cool ;  lastly  add  the  camphor.  This  preparation  keeps 
for  months,  retaining  its  properties. 
Yellow  wax, 
Solution  subacetate  lead, 
Camphor, 
Jiiiss. 
f^iiss. 
3ss. 
