Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  1 
AprU,  1386.  J 
Folia  Pimentce. 
163 
FOLIA  PIMEXTJE. 
By  William  "Warner  Abell,  Ph.G. 
(Abstract  of  an  Inaugural  Essay.) 
The  leaves  of  Eugenia  Pimenta  are  petiolate  and  vary  somewhat 
in  shape  and  size,  but  are  usually  about  four  inches  long,  elliptical, 
entire,  blunt  or  obtusely  pointed,  veined,  of  a  shining  green  color, 
and  have  an  astringent  and  aromatic  taste. 
On  distilling  448  gm.  of  the  ground  leaves  with  water  for  36 
hours,  the  distillate  treated  with  ether  yielded  only  half  a  fluidrachm, 
or  rather  less  than  \  per  cent,  of  volatile  oil,  resembling  that  of 
Myrcia  acris.  The  estimation  of  tannin  was  attempted  by  precipi- 
tating the  concentrated  infusion  with  basic  lead  acetate,  decomposing 
the  precipitate  with  hydrosulphuric  acid  and  evaporating,  which 
gave  0*417  per  cent.  The  ash  amounted  to  11*25  per  cent,  one-eighth 
of  which  was  soluble  in  water. 
The  following  pharmaceutical  preparations  were  made  : — 
Abstractum  Pimentce  foliorum.  Prepared  by  the  pharmacopoeia! 
process  for  abstracts ;  it  is  of  a  light-green  color  and  has  a  strong 
odor  of  pimenta. 
Extractwn  Pimentce  foliorum  fluidum.  Experiments  made  with 
alcohol,  alcohol  (2  parts)  and  water  (1  part),  and  with  diluted  alcohol, 
with  and  without  the  addition  of  glycerin,  lead  to  the  conclusion  that 
diluted  alcohol  is  the  best  menstruum,  yielding  a  dark-colored,  almost 
black  fluid  extract,  having  a  strong,  pungent  taste  of  pimenta  and 
fully  representing  the  virtues  of  the  leaves. 
JExtradum  Pimentce  foliorum.  Using  alcohol  as  the  menstruum, 
7*5  per  cent,  of  a  dark-colored,  oily  extract  was  obtained ;  and  with 
diluted  alcohol,  12*5  per  cent.  The  latter  was  of  a  pilular  consist- 
ence, dark  brown,  and  had  the  strong  odor  and  taste  of  the  drug. 
Tinctura  Pimentce  foliorum.  Strength :  12  in  100.  Menstruum 
used :  alcohol  85  and  water  15  parts.  The  reason  for  choosing  a 
stronger  alcoholic  menstruum  for  the  tincture  than  for  the  fluid 
extract  is  not  stated. 
Trochisci  Pimentce  foliorum,  containing  1  gram  of  the  extract  in  30 
troches,  have  a  fine  aromatic  and  astringent  taste. 
Populin,  a  bitter  principle  obtained  from  the  bark  of  white  poplar,  or 
tc  quaking  aspen,"  and  other  species  of  Populus,  is  said  to  act  like  a  charm  in 
painful  micturition  and  scalding.  The  dose  ranges  from  two  to  four  grains. — 
Med.  World. 
