Amjune^886arm'}   Minutes  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting.  315 
the  store  about  three  weeks,  and  another  sample,  made  but  a  short  time  since  T 
was  of  the  same  appearance  as  that  which  had  been  made  for  some  time ;  this, 
it  was  thought,  proved  that  the  reaction,  described  at  the  last  meeting,  was  caused 
by  the  fluid  extract  employed  being  made  in  a  different  manner  from  that  di- 
rected by  our  pharmacopoeia. 
A  note  on  fluid  extract  of  corn  silk,  the  stigmata  of  Zea  Mays,  written  by 
Spencer  Phillips,  of  Topeka,  Kansas,  was  read,  and  the  sample  of  the  fluid 
extract  submitted  with  it,  had  an  odor  very  like  either  that  of  ergot  or  colchi- 
cum.   The  formula  is  as  follows : 
Dried  Corn  Silk  .  16  oz. 
Diluted  Alcohol....  q.  s. 
Diluted  Hydrochloric  Acid  ./jfj. 
Glycerin  q.  s. 
Grind  the  corn  silk  in  a  mill  as  fine  as  possible.  Having  moistened  the 
ground  drug  sufficiently,  pack  firmly  in  a  glass  percolator,  then  add  enough 
menstruum  to  saturate  and  leave  a  stratum  above  it.  When  the  liquid  begins 
to  drop  from  the  percolator,  close  the  lower  orifice,  and,  having  covered  the 
percolator,  let  it  macerate  four  days.  Then  allow  the  percolation  to  proceed 
until  the  drug  is  exhausted.  Having  reserved  the  first  thirteen  fluid  ounces,, 
evaporate  the  remainder,  having  first  added  the  diluted  hydrochloric  acid  to 
this  portion,  by  aid  of  a  water  bath,  to  the  consistence  of  a  soft  extract.  Dis- 
solve this  soft  extract  in  glycerin  and  add  sufficient  glycerin  to  make  the 
measure  of  one  pint  when  added  to  the  reserved  liquid.  By  using  a  still,  the 
cost  of  the  fluid  extract  is  reduced  to  less  price  than  it  can  be  obtained  by 
purchase. 
The  reading  of  this  note  elicited  a  conversation  upon  the  value  of  corn  silk 
as  a  therapeutic  remedy;  some  of  those  present  doubted  whether  it  had  any 
value  at  all,  while  another  member  stated  that  a  medical  friend  found  it 
valuable  as  a  remedy  in  diseases  of  the  kidneys;  and  there  is  good  authority 
for  believing  it  to  be  active  as  a  diuretic.  A  difference  in  the  color  of  the 
sample  exhibited,  and  that  of  other  makers  which  was  upon  the  market,  was 
explained  by  the  statement  that  some  was  made  from  the  fresh  pile  green 
corn  silk,  and  that  others  were  prepared  from  the  dried  drug,  like  the  sample 
shown. 
A  member  asked  what  was  the  usual  practice  in  reference  to  lard  for  pharma- 
ceutical uses,  and  what  was  found  best  in  practice.  One  of  those  present 
stated  that  he  had  lard  made  in  the  country  specially  for  him  and  found  it 
entirely  satisfactory.  The  inquiry  was  made  whether  the  refined  lard  of  com- 
merce was  p-ure  enough  for  medicinal  purposes;  this  was  answered  that  one 
of  the  houses  who  refined  very  large  quantities  of  lard  stated  that  they  made 
none  at  all,  but  merely  refined  it.  It  was  queried,  What  percentage  of  water 
was  present  in  commercial  lard?  but  no  one  present  s  ated  that  they  knew 
what  amount  of  water  it  did  contain.  The  preservation  of  lard  by  means 
of  benzoin  and  poplar  buds  was  also  discussed,  and  some  thought  that  benzoic 
acid  would  answer  as  well  as  benzoin,  while  another  present  expressed  the 
opinion  that  the  resinous  matter  of  the  gum  benzoin  was  the  efficient  agent. 
The  subject  of  concentrated  nitrous  ether  being  used  to  add  to  alcohol  in  pro- 
portions alleged  to  make  sweet  spirit  of  nitre,  was  brought  up  for  discussion,. 
