PREPARATION  OF  SAVIN  CERATE,  ETC. 
373 
whereby  a  great  portion  of  its  activity  is  dissipated  independent 
of  the  further  liability  of  it  being  sometimes  used  in  coarse 
powder. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  London  Pharmacopoeia  directs  the 
ointment  to  be  prepared  by  infusing  the  fresh  leaves  in  melted 
lard  and  wax — the  Edinburgh  by  boiling  the  leaves  in  the  fatty 
matter,  and  the  Dublin  by  incorporating  the  powder  with  simple 
ointment. 
From  the  nature  of  the  composition  of  Savin,  depending  as 
it  does  upon  volatile  oil  for  its  activity,  it  must  be  evident  that 
in  all  those  cases,  where  much  heat  is  employed,  the  resulting 
ointment  will  be  deficient  in  this  constituent.  I  would,  there- 
fore, suggest  the  following  formula  as  a  substitute  for  that  of 
the  Pharmacopoeia : — 
Take  of  Lard,       .       .       .       .       .       7 J  ounces. 
Resin,         .       .       .       .       •  li  " 
Yellow  Wax,    ....       3  « 
Fluid  Extract  of  Savin,  .    2  « 
Melt  together  the  Lard,  Resin  and  Wax,  and  when  nearly 
cool,  having  stirred  it  constantly,  add  the  fluid  extract,  and  con- 
tinue the  stirring  to  completion. 
For  the  preparation  of  the  Fluid  Extract  of  Savin,  the  fol- 
lowing mode  is  proposed :  - 
Take  of  English  Savin,  in  fine  powder,  prepared  from  recently 
Dried  leaves  by  contusion,    .       .       .4  ounces. 
Alcohol  (about  90  per  cent.)   .       .        q.  s. 
Pour  on  the  Savin  sufficient  alcohol  to  dampen  the  powder, 
(ten  drachms.)    Pack  immediately  in  a  suitable  displacer,  with 
considerable  pressure,  and  having  placed  on  the  surface  a  piece 
of  perforated  paper,  pour  on  the  alcohol,  and  when  six  fluid 
ounces  shall  have  passed,  put  aside  for  spontaneous  evaporation 
until  reduced  to  three  fluid  ounces — stirring  frequently,  mean- 
while, facilitates  the  process.     Continue  the  addition  of  the  al- 
cohol until  eight  fluid  ounces  more  pass  ;  reduce  this  by  water- 
bath  at  a  moderate  temperature  to  one  fluid  ounce,  and  mix  it 
with  the  previous  three  fluid  ounces. — Jour,  and  Trans,  of 
Maryland  College  of  Pharm.,  June  1858. 
