AmMJa0r?i87h9arm  }  Extract  of  Wild  Cherry . 
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paper  only  faintly  blue,  and  blue  litmus  paper  will  be  tinged  red  at  the 
•edges,  becoming  entirely  red  when  exposed  to  the  air  a  short  time. 
On  the  strength  of  this  fact,  I  usually  make  the  solution  so  that  it 
turns  blue  litmus  faintly  red. 
By  this  process  ten  fluid-ounces  of  acetic  acid  are  used  and  ten  fluid- 
ounces  of  the  solution  are  obtained,  and  consequently  we  must  dilute 
in  the  same  proportions  as  for  making  Acid.  Acetic.  Dil.,  U.  S.  P., 
that  is,  one  measure  to  seven,  and,  using  carbonic  acid  water  instead 
of  distilled  water,  form  the  officinal  liquor  ammonii  acetatis.  The  use 
of  carbonic  acid  water  is  not  of  a  secondary  importance,  as  the  officinal 
solution  contains  carbonic  acid  gas,  and  its  presence  often  allays  vomit- 
ing. It  is  not  difficult  to  obtain,  as  almost  every  pharmacist  has  a  soda 
water  apparatus  in  constant  operation  during  the  summer  season,  and 
in  the  winter  the  syphon  bottle  may  be  resorted  to,  or  a  quantity  may 
be  put  up  in  vials  of  various  sizes,  being  well  stoppered,  and  kept  in  a 
cool  place  ready  for  use.  It  should,  however,  be  free  from  copper  and 
other  impurities. 
The  ammonium  carbonate  should  also  be  carefully  examined,  as  the 
commercial  article  frequently  contains  animal  oil  and  tarry  matter. 
Pittsburgh,  Jan.  2isr,  1879. 
FLUID  EXTRACT  OF  WILD  CHERRY. 
Br  Wilford  O.  Higcate,  Ph.G. 
Abstract  from  a  thesis  presented  to  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy. 
A  fluid  extract  of  wild  cherry  bark,  prepared  by  the  process  described 
below,  is  regarded  by  the  author  as  possessing  all  the  virtues  of  the 
drug  and  as  representing  it  fluidounce  f  r  troyounce. 
Eighteen  troyounces  of  the  bark  are  reduced  to  a  powder,  passing 
through  a  No.  40  sieve.  Of  this  powder  sixteen  troyounces  are  well 
moistened  with  a  mixture  consisting  of  4  parts  of  glycerin,  4  parts  of 
simple  syrup  and  2  parts  of  water.  The  moistened  powder  is  then 
packed  moderately  tight  into  a  cylindrical  glass  percolator,  and  a  suffi- 
cient quantity  of  the  mixture  is  poured  on  until  the  liquid  just  begins 
to  drop.  The  percolator  is  then  corked  and  covered,  and  set  aside  for 
four  days,  during  which  time  the  amygdalin  will  be  decomposed  into 
volatile  oil  and  hydrocyanic  acid.  Percolation  is  then  commenced  with 
the  mixture  mentioned  above,  to  ten  parts  of  which  one  part  of  alcohol 
