212 
Extractum  Ipecacuanhas  Fluidurn.  \A\ 
to  be  4,574  grains  ;  this,  mixed  with  the  first  32  f.  oz.  percolate,  and 
evaporated  to  16  f.  oz.,  weighed  8,310  grains  finished  fluid  extract. 
A  practical  difficulty  presents  itself  in  the  manufacture  of  this  pre. 
paration.  Economy  of  alcohol  in  the  manipulation  of  fluid  extracts 
is  an  important  consideration,  and  this  is  paramount  whenever  it  can 
be  practiced  without  injury  to  the  preparation. 
The  Pharmacopoeia  directs  that  the  first  32  f.  oz.  percolate  be 
evaporated  at  a  temperature  not  exceeding  140°  F.,  therefore  the 
recovery  of  alcohol  from  the  tincture  is  impossible,  the  temperature 
given  is  too  low  for  distillation  ;  if  it  is  heated  to  the  boiling  point, 
the  finished  preparation  will  be  gelatinized  and  unsatisfactory. 
If  the  evaporation  is  conducted  at  140°  after  filtering,  the  finished 
fluid  extract  has  a  syrupy  consistence,  dark  rich  color,  odor  strong 
and  characteristic  of  the  drug. 
The  new  formula  provides  no  method  for  the  separation  of  the 
inert  resin,  which  is  the  troublesome  object  that  required  attention. 
The  writer  made  several  experiments,  varying  the  process,  but  ad- 
hering to  the  glycerin  and  low  temperature,  and  found  in  every 
instance  that  a  syrup  made  from  the  fluid  extract  precipitated  the 
resin,  giving  the  syrup  a  dirty  appearance,  which  is  a  cause  for  com- 
The  loss  of  alcohol  is  great,  first  in  the  residue  or  exhausted  pow- 
der, then  from  the  tincture,  finally  glycerin  is  added,  and  the  pre- 
paration has  gained  nothing  but  density  and  color.  Emetia,  the 
active  principle  in  ipecac,  is  perfectly  soluble  in  alcohol  and  sparingly 
soluble  in  water,  U.  S.  Disp. — page  495. 
This  fact  suggests  stronger  alcohol  as  the  proper  menstruum,  the 
rate  of  exhaustion  is  given  below,  16  f.  oz.  stronger  alcohol  weighing 
about  5,907  grains. 
plaint. 
1  Pint  weighed  6,333  grains.    Difference,  426  grains. 
2  "  "  6,110  "  "  203  " 
3  "  "  6,065  "  "  158  " 
4  "  "  6,055  "  "  148  " 
5  "  *'  6,055  "  "  148  " 
6  "  "  6,060  "  "  153  " 
7  "  "  6,038  "  "  131  " 
1,367  grains. 
Quantity  powder  percolated  .  .  7,680  grains. 
Dried  residue,  after  exhaustion     .       6,320  " 
Loss  by  percolation,  solid  extract 
1,360  grains. 
