^"^'j^Z'ms^'''^ }        Extractum  Cimicifagoe  Jbluidum.  7 
stellate  crystals,  which  were  not  further  examined.  These  crystals 
were  not  noticed  in  either  one  of  the  other  two  fluid  extracts. 
No.  3. — 150  grammes  of  the  ground  drug  was  taken,  as  in  each  of 
the  preceding  cases,  and  exhausted,  using  a  menstruum  consisting  of 
two  parts  of  alcohol  and  one  part  of  water,  corresponding  to  63  J  per 
cent,  of  absolute  alcohol,  the  most  aqueous  menstruum  used.  This 
finished  fluid  extract  is  darker  than  either  of  the  preceding  ones,  show- 
ing that  the  coloring  matter  is  dissolved  principally  by  the  water,  and 
as  in  the  case  of  'No.  2,  it  precipitated  most  of  the  volatile  oil  and 
resin,  which  had  been  extracted  by  the  alcohol,  leaving  in  solution  in 
the  aqueous  menstruum  but  a  small  portion  of  the  active  principles. 
From  the  foregoing  experiments  it  will  be  seen  that  in  i3ases  where  a 
drug  owes  its  activity  to  volatile  oil  and  resin,  and  a  large  quantity  of 
either  is  present,  as  is  the  case  with  asarum,  a  menstruum  of  95  per 
cent,  alcohol  or  nearly  this  strength  is  absolutely  necessary,  if  it  is 
desired  to  thoroughly  exhaust  the  drug  of  these  principles  and  retain 
them  permanently  in  solution  in  the  finished  fluid  extract. 
EXTRACTUM  CIMICIFUG^  FLUIDUM;  FLUID  EX- 
TRACT OF  CIMICIFUGA. 
Contribution  from  the  Pharmaceutical  Laboratory,  Philadelphia  College  of 
Pharmacy. 
By  Edwin  C.  Lesher. 
Read  at  the  Pharmaceutical  Meeting,  December  20, 1887. 
The  investigation  of  the  active  principle  of  medicinal  plants,  and 
the  determination  of  the  menstruum  for  extracting  the  same,  is  a  work 
attended  with  no  little  trouble.  Having  made  a  number  of  experi- 
ments to  ascertain  the  best  menstruum  that  would  produce  a  fluid  ex- 
tract of  cimicifuga,  the  following  results  are  hereby  recorded : 
Formula  No.  1 :  Cimicifuga  in  Xo.  60  powder,  8  ounces  av. ;  al- 
cohol sufficient  to  make  8  fluid-ounces.  Moisten  with  2  fluid-ounces 
of  alcohol. 
Formula  No.  2 :  Cimicifuga  in  Xo.  60  powder,  8  ounces  av. ;  di- 
luted alcohol  sufficient  to  make  8  fluid-ounces.  Moisten  with  2  fluid- 
ounces  of  diluted  alcohol. 
Formula  No.  3 :  Cimicifuga  in  Xo.  60  powder,  8  ounces  av. ;  al- 
cohol, 2  parts;  water,  1  part.  Moisten  with  2  fluid-ounces  of  the 
menstruum. 
