ON BLACK HELLEBORE. 
169 
" The first is a good preparation, and is the one more gene- 
rally nsed. The extract may be a good and active medi- 
cine, if properly prepared. The old mode by boiling in 
water was calculated to dissipate the volatile principle, and 
not to dissolve the resin. The present formula in which 
the menstruum is diluted alcohol, by displacement, affords 
a valuable extract. 
" When a tincture of black hellebore is distilled to recover 
the alcohol, the distilled fluid smells of the hellebore, and 
becomes slightly milky by admixture with water, and evi- 
dently contains volatile oil. The aqueous extractive liquid 
in the still has a portion of fluid resinous matter float- 
ing on its surface, and also a portion at the bottom of 
the vessel. This, when separated, and the adhering liquid 
washed from it, is of a transparent, brown colour, extremely 
friable, and by standing loses its transparency by the 
numerous fissures that traverse it, like in the best gum 
arabic. Its taste is very bitter, without any of the aroma of 
the root. It is soluble in alcohol .835, but is only slightly 
soluble in washed ether, the residue being more bitter than 
the dissolved portion. It does not inflame very readily, but 
when thrown into the fire burns with a smoky, resinous 
flame. 
"In making the extract, this resin, if at first removed, should 
be pulverized, and subsequently incorporated with the ex- 
tract. 
" Its therapeutic properties have not been examined. 
" In treating hellebore root by displacement with diluted 
alcohol, it is best to slightly moisten the coarsely powdered 
root with the menstruum, and displace an hour after, reserv- 
ing the first concentrated liquids, which contain most of the 
volatile oil and resin. The root yields about 20 per cent, 
of extract. 
"A wine, vinegar, decoction and ointment of hellebore are 
employed in European Pharmacy.'^ 
