Am'june!'i895arm'}  An  Examination  of  Commercial  Fluid  Extracts.  299 
Comparison  was  also  made  between  commercial  fluid  extracts  and 
some  prepared  from  the  same  drug  according  to  pharmacopceial 
directions. 
F.  E.  Cimicifuga  has  already  received  mention. 
F.  E.  Gentian  readily  reduces  Fehling's  solution,  both  in  the 
official  and  commercial  preparations. 
The  samples  of  the  commercial  extracts  examined,  however, 
showed  a  glucose  percentage  of  over  5  per  cent.,  while  the  official 
preparation  was  found  to  contain  2  5  per  cent.  A  like  result  was 
also  found  in  F.  E.  Taraxacum. 
This  preparation,  when  made  according  to  the  Pharmacopoeia,  con- 
tained between  2  and  3  per  cent,  of  glucose,  while  two  samples  of 
the  commercial  fluid  extract,  showed  between  5  and  6  per  cent,  to 
be  present.  The  presence  of  caramel  was,  however,  noticeable  in 
both. 
A  sample  of  commercial  F.  E.  Calumba  gave  ready  indication  of 
the  presence  of  glucose,  while  the  preparation  made  from  the  drug 
by  the  writer  was  found  to  be  perfectly  free  from  the  same.  All 
the  available  tests  for  glucose  gave  a  negative  indication  of  its 
presence. 
F.  E.  Rhubarb,  prepared  by  the  writer,  was  found  to  contain 
about  1  per  cent,  of  glucose. 
Two  commercial  samples  were  found  to  contain  respectively  3  and 
4  per  cent 
A  number  of  similar  comparisons  were  also  made,  furnishing,  in 
the  main,  like  results. 
Incidentally  it  may  also  be  mentioned  that,  while  making  the 
above  examinations,  the  presence  of  possible  metallic  contamination 
was  also  inquired  into.  In  a  number  of  commercial  samples  the 
presence  of  copper  was  easily  detected,  showing  that  but  little  dis- 
crimination was  used  in  the  selection  of  the  working  utensils. 
The  importance  of  self-manufacture  in  this  class  of  preparations 
cannot  be  too  strongly  urged  upon  the  pharmacist,  if  it  is  his  desire 
to  comply  strictly  with  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
While  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  do  so  in  every  instance,  there  is 
no  reason  why  he  should  not  manufacture  those  frequently  used, 
and  in  whose  reliability  he  can  have  absolute  confidence. 
In  commercial  fluid  extracts  his  only  authority  is  the  manufac- 
turer's statement  upon  the  label. 
