Am.  Joub.  Pharm.  | 
June  1, 1871.  j 
Pepsin, 
261 
I  have  ti'ied  this  with  great  satisfaction,  and  have  also  modified  it 
by  substituting  pareria  brava  for  the  cubebs  in  some  cases. 
I  hope  to  make  some  suggestions  concerning  other  articles  which 
mj  experience  has  indicated  as  improvements  in  existing  prepara- 
tions. 
Albany,  May  U.A^n. 
[We  know  little  of  the  composition  of  the  so-called  fluid  extracts  of 
buchu,  now  largely  advertised  as  proprietary  medicines,  but  believe 
the  author's  remarks  to  be  correct,  that  some,  at  least,  contain  scarcely 
any  buchu.  However,  we  desire  to  remind  the  author  that  fluid  ex- 
tract of  buchu,  prepared  according  to  the  (J.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  soon 
acquires  a  mint  like  odor. — Editor  Amer.  Jour.  Ph.] 
PEPSIN. 
By  G.  a.  Zwick. 
So  much  has  been  said  and  written  about  this  remedy,  that  the 
subject  would  seem  nearly  exhausted.  I  desire,  therefore,  only  to 
communicate  the  result  of  a  few  experiments  just  completed ;  these, 
with  the  investigations  of  others,  may  perhaps  lead  to  the  adoption 
of  a  formula  for  a  preparation  of  this  article  in  the  next  edition  of 
our  Pharmacopoeia. 
1st.  A  fresh  stomach  of  a  pig  was  emptied,  and  the  slimy  mucous 
substance  scraped  ofl",  spread  upon  a  glass  plate,  and  dried. 
2d.  The  mucous  membrane  (scraped  off'  as  above)  was  dissected 
from  the  body  of  the  stomach,  cut  up  into  moderately  fine  pieces. 
This  weighed  8  oz.  ;  it  was  digested  with  ^viii  pure  glycerin  (acidu- 
lated with  ^ii  muriatic  acid)  for  twelve  hours,  expressed,  and  more 
glycerin  added  till  .Iviii  Avere  again  obtained.  This  fluid  was  set 
aside,  and  separated  after  a  feAV  days  ;  the  clear  was  poured  off"  and 
filtered,  warming  it  a  little  to  facilitate  filtration. 
3d.  Another  pig's  stomach  was  cleanly  washed  and  wiped,  mace- 
rated with  water  (acidulated  with  hydrochloric  acid)  for  12  hours,  this 
water  poured  off*  and  more  added,  washing  and  rubbing  the  membrane 
well.  All  these  washings  and  the  first  infusion  of  12  hours,  making 
24  oz.,  were  filtered,  precipitated  with  acetate  of  lead,  and  treated 
with  sulphuretted^hydrogen,  being  the  process  mentioned  in  the  U.  S. 
Dispensatory,  but  the  liquid  pepsin  was  evaporated  to  ,^viii  only,  not 
to  dryness. 
