Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
March,  1886.  J 
Laboratory  Notes. 
119 
leaves.  The  leaves  are  powdered  and  percolated  with  a  mixture  of 
3  parts  of  alcohol  and  1  part  of  water,  until  1 If  fluid  ozs.  of  tincture 
are  obtained,  to  which  is  added  a  solution  of  oil  of  orange,  6  drops, 
and  oil  of  cinnamon,  2  drops,  in  J-  fluid  ounce  of  alcohol,  and  after- 
ward 4  fluid  ounces  of  simple  syrup. 
Fluid  Extract  of  Quebracho. — Henry  J.  Wegener,  Ph.G.,  has  re- 
peatedly been  relieved  of  asthma,  caused  by  handling  powdered 
ipecacuanha,  by  taking  a  dose  of  this  fluid  extract. 
Fluid  Extract  of  Cotton  Boot-bark. — Chas.  C.  Ramey,  Ph.G ,  rer 
ports  several  experiments  made  with  this  fluid  extract,  which  had 
been  filtered  from  the  precipitate  formed  therein  in  about  a  year,  and 
which  in  this  condition  had  no  effect  when  used  by  a  physician  in 
cases  of  menorrhagia.  On  the  other  hand,  several  doses  of  one  grain 
pills,  made  from  the  dried  precipitate,  produced  considerable  nausea 
and  effected  a  diminution  of  the  flow  in  excessive  menstruation.  The 
menstruum  used  for  the  fluid  extract  is  not  stated. 
The  coloring  matter  of  Hydrastis  is  precipitated  from  the  aqueous 
infusion  of  the  root  by  basic  acetate  of  lead,  according  to  John  W. 
Newton,  Ph.G.  After  decomposing  the  precipitate  by  sulphuretted 
hydrogen,  the  coloring  matter  was  again  soluble  in  water,  and  this 
solution,  which  contained  5"90  per  cent,  of  solid  matter,  did  not  dye 
cotton  cloth,  for  which  acetate  of  iron,  ferric  chloride,  aluminium 
acetate,  or  potassium  bichromate  had  been  used  as  mordants.  Subse- 
quently, sodium  carbonate  and  sulphuric  acid  were  added  in  turn 
without  altering  the  result. 
Hydrargyrum  cum  Creta. — Robert  B.  Matter,  Ph.G.,  suggests  the 
following  process,  which  in  his  hands,  has  been  uniformly  successful, 
and  by  which  4  or  8  oz.  of  the  preparation  can  be  made  within  one 
hour. 
Mix  12  parts  of  finely  powdered  gum  arabic  with  12  parts  of  pre- 
pared chalk,  triturate  it  with  water  sufficient  to  form  a  rather  thin 
paste,  add  38  parts  of  mercury  and  continue  the  trituration  until  the 
globules  of  mercury  have  disappeared.  Now  add  38  parts  of  finely 
powdered  prepared  chalk  and  sufficient  water  to  form  a  thin  paste, 
triturate  and  when  all  the  globules  of  mercury  have  disappeared, 
place  the  mortar  in  a  hot  water-bath.  The  mixture  distributed 
around  the  sides  of  the  mortar,  will  dry  rapidly,  when  it  can  be  easily 
scraped  out,  powdered  in  a  clean  mortar,  passed  through  bolting 
cloth,  or  a  fine  sieve,  and  finally  rubbed  lightly  in  a  clean  dry  mortar. 
