298  An  Examination  of  Commercial  Fluid  Extracts.  { ^mjinV,\m&rm' 
Comparison  was  also  made  between  fluid  extracts,  prepared  from 
the  same  drug  and  obtained  from  different  manufacturers. 
As  already  stated,  considerable  variation  in  color  is  frequently 
observable,  and  this  is  in  many  instances  due  to  the  presence  of 
caramel. 
Regarding  their  glucose  percentage,  some  variation  also  exists. 
In  a  sample  of  F.  E.  Buchu,  the  percentage  of  one  sample  was 
2  5  ;  of  another,  3  per  cent.  The  filtrate  of  the  former,  after  the  lead 
and  acid  treatment,  was  almost  colorless  ;  of  the  latter,  a  decided 
brown. 
In  F.  E.  Belladonna  leaves  the  glucose  percentage  of  one  sam- 
ple was  -5  per  cent.;  of  another,  less  than  -2  per  cent.  Incidentally 
may  be  noticed,  that  the  narcotic  fluid  extracts  in  general  appear  to 
contain  but  little  sugar. 
This  was  observed  in  F.  E.  Belladonna  leaves,  hyoscyamus  and 
also  in  digitalis. 
F.  E.  Coca  leaves,  of  a  deep  black  color,  obtained  from  one  firm, 
showed  a  glucose  percentage  of  1  ,  while  the  dark  green  prepara- 
tion of  another  firm  showed  less  than  -5  per  cent. 
F.  E.  Humulus,  from  one  firm,  strongly  alcoholic,  precipitating 
resin  on  dilution  with  water,  gave  indication  of  about  -830  per  cent, 
of  glucose,  while  the  dark  brown  miscible  extract  from  another 
source  indicated  2  per  cent. 
F.  E.  Ipecacuanha  showed  in  one  instance  a  percentage  of  -5  ;  in 
another,  2  5  per  cent. 
Other  comparisons  were  also  made,  but  the  above  may  illustrate 
the  claim  that  commercial  fluid  extracts,  as  a  rule,  are  not  alike  in 
physical  properties  and  composition  as  obtained  from  different 
manufacturers. 
Interesting  revelations  are  made  in  some  fluid  extracts  after  sub- 
jecting them  to  the  lead  and  acid  treatment  mentioned. 
If  to  the  final  filtrate  picric  acid  test  solution  is  added,  alkaloids, 
if  present  in  the  drug,  will  be  indicated. 
Among  those  affected  in  this  manner  may  be  mentioned  F.  E. 
Coca,  Ipecac,  Hydrastis,  Quebracho,  Cimicifuga,  Xanthoxylum, 
Calumba,  and  a  number  of  others. 
Fluorescent  compounds  were  revealed  in  the  filtrates  from  F.  E. 
Pichi  and  Hydrangea,  the  fluorescence  in  each  being  increased  by  the 
addition  of  an  alkali. 
