392  Formula  for  Tinctvra  Valeriana.  {^FiXm* 
as  all  the  alcohol  was  evaporated,  notwithstanding  diligent  stirring. 
I  heated  the  ointment  again  and  strained.  It  has  a  nearly  white 
color  and  the  odor  of  benzoin  to  perfection,  and  I  never  yet  heard 
any  complaint  as  to  its  being  in  the  least  irritating. 
Hence  the  officinal  formula  might  be  altered  so  as  to  read  : 
"  and,  when  the  alcohol  has  entirely  evaporated,  strain,  and  stir  occa- 
sionally while  cooling." 
When  this  first  happened  to  me,  I  asked  a  colleague  as  to 
his  experience  ;  he  told  me  that  he  obviated  the  difficulty  by  not 
allowing  all  the  alcohol  to  evaporate;  this  would  make  it  possible  to 
get  a  homogeneous  ointment.  Probably  the  irritating  property  is 
due  to  the  separation  of  the  resin. 
Philadelphia,  August  6,  1873. 
FORMULA  FOR  TINCTURA  VALERIANAE. 
By  Charles  0.  Patterson. 
II.    Valerian  in  fine  powder,        .        .        .  §ij. 
Water,     ......        5  viij. 
Glycerin,  Bower's,        ....  siv. 
Diluted  alcohol,        .        .        .        .        siv,  or  sufficient. 
Magnesium  carbonate,  .        .        .  sss. 
Moisten  the  valerian  with  1  oz.  diluted  alcohol,  pack  it  firmly  in  a 
glass  funnel,  pour  on  diluted  alcohol  until  4  oz.  are  obtained;  set 
this  aside.  Now  mix  the  glycerin  and  water  and  pour  it  on  the  vale- 
rian ;  when  all  has  passed  mix  it  with  the  reserved  tincture  and  tri- 
turate it  with  the  magnesia  thoroughly  and  filter.  The  result  is  a 
fine  dark  tincture  with  no  sediment  after  long  standing.  The  above 
formula  will  suit  for  all  tinctures  that  produce  sediments,  and,  further, 
it  gives  a  pleasant  taste. 
St.  Clairsville,  Ohio,  Aug.  6,  1873. 
[Note  by  the  Editor. — If  color  alone  was  a  sure  criterion  of  the 
excellency  of  a  pharmaceutical  preparation,  it  would  be  easy  enough 
to  obtain  tinctures,  etc.,  by  employing  a  menstruum  containing  much 
water  or  sufficient  glycerin,  which  are  sure  to  dissolve  the  dark  col- 
ored so-called  extractive  constituents  contained  in  most  of  the  officinal 
drugs.  On  a  critical  examination,  however,  it  will  be  found  that  the 
alcoholic  strength  of  most  tinctures  might,  with  great  propriety,  be 
considerably  increased,  perhaps  at  the  expense  of  the  deep  color,  but 
