^'jan!?;mr''"  I      The  Strength  of  Fluid  Extracts,  23 
Extractum  Rliei  Fluidum, 
Take  of  Rhubarb,  sixteen  troy  ounces. 
Alcohol, 
Diluted  Alcohol,  each  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Glycerin,  four  fluid  ounces. 
Mix  two  fluid  ounces  of  the  glycerin  with  fourteen  fluid  ounces  of 
alcohol,  and  with  six  fluid  ounces  of  this  moisten  the  rhubarb  (ground, 
and  as  much  as  possible  of  it  passed  through  a  No.  40  sieve).  Pack 
moderately  in  a  conical  glass  percolator,  and  pour  on  the  remainder 
of  the  glycerin  and  alcohol.  Macerate  for  twenty-four  hours,  then 
mix  the  remaining  two  fluid  ounces  of  glycerin  with  one  pint  of  alco- 
hol and  fourteen  fluid  ounces  of  water,  and  Avith  this  and  diluted 
alcohol  continue  the  percolation  till  first  sixteen  fluid  ounces,  which 
reserve,  and  then  about  two  pints  more  of  percolate  have  been  re- 
ceived ;  this  latter  percolate  distill  in  a  water-bath  still  till  reduced 
to  twelve  fluid  ounces,  to  this  add  the  reserve  percolate,  and  continue 
the  distillation  till  reduced  to  such  a  point  that,  when  cold,  the  fluid 
extract  shall  measure  exactly  sixteen  fluid  ounces. 
Carefully  prepared  in  this  way,  from  really  good  material,  fluid 
extracts  are  very  faithful  representatives  of  the  original  drugs,  and 
their  preparation  is  not  more  difficult  than  is  that  of  compound  syrup 
of  sarsaparilla,  for  example,  or  any  other  preparation  requiring  care 
and  attention.  Aside  from  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  just  what  he 
is  dispensing,  the  preparation  of  fluid  extracts  by  the  apothecary  fur- 
ther recommends  itself  on  economical  grounds,  for  by  the  saving  of 
the  alcohol  and  by  taking  the  precaution  to  prepare  a  season's  supply 
during  the  winter, — when  there  is  more  leisure  time,  and  when  the 
same  fire  can  be  used  that  is  used  for  heating  purposes, — their  cost 
can  be  brought  considerably  below  the  price  paid  to  the  wholesale 
manufacturer. 
Chicago,  111.,  August,  1870. 
—  The  Pharmacist^  Chicago^  Oct.  1870. 
[Note. — "We  cannot  withhold  a  hearty  approval  of  the  views  offered  in  the 
paper  of  Mr.  Mill  in  favor  of  retaining  the  officinal  strength  of  fluid  extracts, 
and  of  the  manner  of  executing  the  processes.  The  constant  complaint  amongst 
apothecaries  of  the  present  day  in  regard  to  the  labor  of  comminuting  drugs 
seems  to  indicate  a  growing  contempt  for  the  mortar  and  handmill  as  proper 
pharmaceutical  implements.  There  has  also  grown  up  in  the  pharmaceutic 
mind  a  remarkable  dread  of  the  effects  of  heat,  be  it  ever  so  moderate,  on  the 
