THE 
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
APRIL, 1845. 
ART. I.— ON MA.RRUBIUM VULGARE. 
BY JOSEPH ALLEN m'MAKEN. 
(Extract from an Inaugural Thesis.) 
The author after a general view of the botanical and 
medical characteristics of the plant, arrives at the following 
results, by a series of experiments, viz : That marrubium 
vulgare contains gum, tannic acid, vegetable albumen, 
resin, volatile oil, fatty matter, wax, potassa, chlorophyllin, 
lignin, and a peculiar crystalline bitter principle, soluble in 
alcohol and ether and insoluble in water. The process for 
isolating this principle, as given by the author, is contained 
in the following extract from his inaugural essay. — Ed. 
" Three ounces of the dried herb were macerated in a 
pint of water acidulated with hydrochloric acid for twenty- 
four hours, and then boiled for fifteen minutes and strained. 
The residue was boiled in three successive portions of water 
acidulated as before, and all the liquid pressed out and 
strained. These clear solutions were mixed and heated 
to the boiling point, when slaked lime was gradually added 
until it ceased to precipitate. The precipitate thus obtain- 
ed was separated, washed well with water, pressed and 
dried ; and then, after being pulverized, was digested in suc- 
vol. xi. — no. i. 1 
