360 
Extract  of  Meat. 
JAM.  Jour.  Pharm- 
t    Ang.  1, 1871. 
black  precipitate,  which  is  redissolved  after  standing  for  a  number  of 
hours,  or  by  the  addition  of  carbolic  acid. 
The  reaction  is  as  follows:  — 
6I-f4NH3==Nl3+2NH,I. 
Thus,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  use  of  ammonia  for  this  purpose  is 
detrimental  to  the  medicinal  efficacy  of  the  iodine ;  and  that  when 
such  so-called  tinctures  prepared  by  this  process  are  substituted  for 
the  tincture  proper,  the  physician  unwittingly  uses  a  solution  of  the 
above  compound.  To  rectify  this  error  is  the  object  of  this  notice ; 
to  which  I  append  the  following  simple,  though  none  the  less  note- 
worthy processes,  for  the  consideration  of  the  pharmaceutical  body 
at  large. 
Process  No.  1. — Potassium  acetate  (KC2H3O2)  2-59  gram.,  with  I'l 
gram,  solution  of  KHO,  having  a  specific  gravity  of  1-06,  at  15*55° 
C,  are  capable  of  decolorizing  2*592  decagrams  of  tincture  of  iodine, 
B.  P. 
Process  No.  2. — A  similar  reaction  is  manifest  if  treated  with  a 
solution  of  NaHO,  having  a  specific  gravity  of  1*07  at  15*55°  C,  in 
the  proportions  of  5*3  decigrams  of  the  sodium  solution  to  3*6  gram, 
of  the  tincture. 
[We  believe  these  preparations  (introduced  by  the  late  Sir  James 
Simpson)  should  not  be  decolorized,  since  that  cannot  be  done  without 
interference  with  the  medicinal  efficacy  of  the  iodine. — Ed.  Pharm* 
JouRN.] — Lond.  Pharm.  Joiirn.^  June  10,  1871. 
EXTRACT  OF  MEAT. 
The  "  Extractum  Carnis  "  known  as  Liebig's,  is  now  extensively 
employed  in  medical  practice.  Now  and  then  doubts  are  expressed 
relative  to  the  nutritive  value  of  the  commercial  extracts,  and,  oc- 
casionally, undesirable  effects  follow  their  administration.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  extract,  whether  prepared  in  the  open  air  by  the 
Liebig  process,  or  in  vacuo  by  the  Borden  method,  can  contain  no 
albumen.  The  albumen  is  coagulated,  and  therefore  excluded  during 
the  manufacture,  so  that  the  extract  consists,  as  shown  by  E.  Rei- 
chart's  analysis,  of 
Water  separable  at  110°  C,  .  .  .16 
Mineral  constituents,  ....  18.20 
Nitrogen,    .       .       .       .       .       .  9.51 
