Ax.  Jocb.  Pharm.  ) 
June  1, 1873.  S 
Suppositories. 
257 
Experiment  4.  The  acidulated  aqueous  extract  of  the  root,  previ- 
ously exhausted  by  ether  and  alcohol,  contained  salts,  among  them 
sulphate  of  calcium. 
Experiment  5.  A  portion  of  the  root  was  boiled  in  water,  and  the 
decoction  strained,  being  too  thick  and  gummy  to  filter  through  paper. 
It  afforded  no  precipitate  with  gelatin,  was  colored  intensely  blue  by 
iodine,  was  not  affected  by  sesquichloride  of  iron,  but  copiously  pre- 
cipitated by  subacetate  of  lead. 
Experiment  6.  A  decoction  of  the  root  contains  glucose,  as  it 
readily  reduces  oxide  of  copper  in  Trommer's  test. 
My  experiments  indicate  that  the  emetic  and  cathartic  properties 
of  the  root  of  Euphorbia  ipecacuanha  are  solely  due  to  its  resin. 
This  resin  may  be  prepared  by  reducing  a  given  quantity  of  the 
root  to  a  moderately  fine  powder,  and  exhausting  it  in  the  usual  man- 
ner with  alcohol,  distilling  off  this  menstruum,  adding  the  residue  to 
water,  washing  and  drying  the  precipitate,  which  is  soft  and  of  a  yel- 
lowish color,  partly  soluble  in  ether ;  and  the  residue,  when  dissolved 
In  the  officinal  solution  of  potassa,  is,  like  the  resin  of  jalap,  not  pre- 
cipitated on  the  addition  of  dilute  muriatic  acid  in  excess. 
The  constituents  found  in  the  root  of  Euphorbia  ipecacuanha  are 
resin,  fixed  oil,  wax,  starch,  glucose  and  inorganic  salts. 
SUPPOSITORIES. 
By  Wm.  B.  Addington,  Norfolk,  Va. 
As  summer  is  now  approaching,  and  suppositories  seem  to  be  more 
used  then,  I  will  give  the  public  the  benefit  of  my  manipulation, 
which  I  think  will  set  at  rest  this  vexing  subject,  and  save  the  break- 
ing of  knuckles  and  the  third  commandment  in  future.  My  improve- 
ment consists  simply  in  lining  each  half  of  the  moulds  with  tinfoil. 
€ret  the  full  impression  of  the  mould  in  the  foil  by  means  of  a  smooth 
stick  the  shape  of  the  mould,  then  close  the  moulds ;  this  will  line 
the  moulds  smoothly.  The  materials  are  then  prepared  and  melted 
in  the  manner  directed  by  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  and  poured  into 
the  tinfoil-lined  moulds.  In  a  few  minutes  the  suppositories  are  solid, 
and  the  foil  is  removed  without  the  least  trouble.  I  do  not  think  tin- 
foil is  incompatible  with  the  substances  generally  prescribed  in  sup- 
pository form.  I  think  those  who  try  this  process  will  admit  its 
advantage  over  those  in  use. 
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