72 
Syrupus  Laducarii. 
Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Feb.,  1888. 
condition  that  comparatively  little  will  be  dissolved  by  the  sub- 
sequent macerations  with  weak  alcohol,  and  this  is  largely  de- 
posited on  evaporating  the  strained  solutions  and  allowing  to  stand 
for  a  time. 
While  the  product  of  the  present  officinal  formula  is  a  decided 
improvement  on  that  of  the  previous  Pharmacopoeia,  it  is  not  entirely 
satisfactory,  the  method  being  expensive  and  difficult.  As  the  use  is 
rather  limited,  but  few  retail  druggists  will  attempt  to  prepare  it, 
depending  on  the  manufacturing  pharmacist  for  their  supply  of  the 
fluid  extract.  As  the  officinal  formula  is  not  satisfactory  in  manipu- 
lation or  in  product,  it  is  not  generally  followed  by  these  manufac- 
turers. It  becomes  the  duty  of  the  revisers  of  our  national  standard 
to  adopt  such  a  formula  as  will  be  practical  for  the  retailer  or  the 
manufacturer.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  a  radical  mistake  of  all  the 
proposed  formulae  for  fluid  extract  of  lactucarium  is  the  attempt  to 
make  a  fluid  extract  of  the  strength  of  100  gm.  to  the  100  c.c.  In 
fact,  all  fluid  extracts  would  be  rendered  more  permanent  and  uniform 
in  medicinal  effects  if  a  strength  of  one-half  troy-ounce  to  the  fluid- 
ounce,  or  of  50  gms.  to  the  100  c.c.  had  been  adopted.  This  is  espe- 
cially the  case  with  a  drug  like  lactucarium,  yielding  to  diluted  alcohol 
nearly  fifty  per  cent,  of  its  weight.  In  confirmation  of  this  point,  I 
would  say  that  several  of  the  principal  manufacturers  are  making  this 
fluid  extract  of  only  one-half  the  officinal  strength. 
I  have  been  preparing  syrup  of  lactucarium  from  a  fluid  extract,  or, 
I  should  rather  say,  a  concentrated  tincture  of  lactucarium  of  one- 
half  the  officinal  strength.  The  formula  which  is  based  on  that  of 
Mr.  Lemberger  is  as  follows  : 
Take  of 
Lactucarium  100  gms. 
Beat  it  up  in  an  iron  mortar  with  an  equal  weight  of  clean  sand  (I  prefer 
small  pieces  of  pumice-stone)  to  a  coarse  powder  and  place  it  in  a  large  bottle 
with 
Benzin   400  c.c. 
Tightly  cork  the  bottle  and  allow  to  macerate  for  2  or  3  days  with 
repeated  agitation.  Decant  the  lactucarium  in  a  double  paper-filter 
and  allow  it  to  drain.  Wash  the  dregs  with  about  100  or  150  c.c.  of 
benzin  and  allow  the  lactucarium  to  dry  by  opening  out  the  filter  on 
a  slab  or  a  few  sheets  of  porous  paper.  AYhen  dry  rub  it  up  in  an 
iron  mortar,  using  a  little  more  sand  or  pumice,  if  necessary,  and  pack 
