■^""jfn"''i883^'"'"*}      Complete  Exhaustion  of  Nux  Vomica.  3 
active  constituents  of  nux  vcmiica ;  the  horny  matter  is  speedily 
softened,  permeated  and  extracted  without  becoming  in  the  least  muci- 
laginous or  distended.  The  weak  alcoholic  saline  menstruum  perco- 
lates the  powder  with  such  freedom  that  this  must  be  very  firmly 
packed,  and  the  flow  of  the  percolate  further  regulated  with  appro- 
priate checks.  The  thorough  exhaustion  is  effected,  in  all  probability, 
by  reason  of  a  double  decomposition  occurring  between  the  igasurates 
and  the  sodium  chloride  in  the  presence  of  weak  alcohol,  resulting  in 
i^he  generation  of  strychnium  chloride,  brucium  chloride  and  sodium 
igasurate,  all  of  which  being  very  soluble  in  diluted  alcohol.  When 
this  solution  is  diluted  with  water  a  retrograde  decomposition  sets  in, 
the  igasuratas  of  the  alkaloids  are  precipitated,  and  sodium  chloride 
remains  in  solution. 
From  a  consideration  of  the  above  cited  results  the  following  facile 
formula  for  an  absolutely  representative  tincture  of  nux  vomica  is 
•obtained. 
Take  of  Nux  vomica,  in  tine  powder,        .  .    8  troyounces. 
Sodium  cliloride,        .  .  .6  draclims. 
Alcohol,  .  .  , 
Water,  .  .  .        of  each    1 J  pint. 
Dissolve  the  sodium  chloride  in  the  water ;  then  add  the  alcohol, 
and  mix  them.  Upon  2  troyounces  of  the  nux  vomica,  contained  in 
a  large  capsule,  pour  2  fluidounces  of  the  menstruum,  and  mix  them 
by  means  of  a  pestle ;  then  gradually  add  the  remainder  of  the  nux 
vomica,  and  thoroughly  mix  the  whole  as  before.  Pack  this  mixture 
very  firmly  into  a  cylindrical  glass  percolator,  and  pour  on  of  the 
menstruum  little  by  little  until,  in  the  course  of  six  to  eight  hours, 
the  liquid  has  descended  to  the  bottom  of  the  column.  Now  suspend 
the  operation,  and  after  twelve  hours  pour  on  more  of  the  menstruum, 
and  regulate  the  flow  at  the  exit  so  that  after  twenty-four  hours  2 
pints  of  percolate  may  be  obtained.  To  avoid  a  trace  of  turbidity, 
which  is  liable  to  appear  in  the  first  fluidounce  of  percolate  when  the 
menstruum  is  added  too  rapidly  at  first,  IJ  drachm  of  the  sodium 
chloride  may  be  mixed  with  the  nux  vomica  before  packing,  and  the 
remainder  dissolved  as  before.  The  finished  tincture  contains  J  grain 
of  sodium  chloride  in  15  minims. 
