240  Fluid  Extracts  of  the  New  Pharmacopoeia.  {^"^M^yjil^i™' 
Spigelia  and  Senna. — For  this  preparation  the  following  formula  was 
recommended  ;  Spigelia  sixty  parts,  senna  thirty  parts,  anise  five  parts^ 
and  caraway  five  parts,  all  to  be  mixed  together,  reduced  to  number 
forty  powder,  and  percolated  w^ith  diluted  alcohol ;  a  sample  thus  pre- 
pared in  January,  1880,  now  contains  only  a  very  moderate  precipi- 
tate, which  formed  soon  after  its  preparation,  and  a  thin  coating  of 
separated  matter  on  tlie  sides  of  the  bottle  above  the  fluid  extract;  in 
every  other  respect  the  preparation  is  in  excellent  condition,  and 
although  no  longer  officinal,  it  will,  no  doubt,  continue  to  maintain 
with  physicians  and  the  public  the  prominent  and  popular  position 
heretofore  held  by  it. 
ExTRACTUM  SuMBUL  Fluidum. — i<  luid  Extract  of  SumbuL— For 
this  preparation  a  menstruum  composed  of  two  parts  of  alcohol  and 
one  part  of  water,  was  recommended ;  a  sample  thus  prepared  in  Janu- 
ary, 1880,  now  contains  only  a  very  slight  precipitate,  is  very  dark  in 
color,  deep  red  and  perfectly  transparent  in  thin  layers ;  it  has  kept 
remarkably  well,  and  no  doubt  fully  represents  the  drug.  Another 
sample,  with  alcohol  as  the  menstruum,  was  prepared  at  the  same  time, 
this  is  much  lighter  in  color,  and  soon  deposited  a  white  crystalline 
substance  all  over  the  bottom  and  sides  of  the  bottle ;  alcohol  is  evi- 
dently not  the  proper  menstruum  for  this  preparation,  although  the- 
present  officinal  tincture,  containing  one  part  of  sumbul  in  ten,  is 
directed  to  be  made  with  that  menstruum ;  but  as  the  dose  of  sumbul 
in  powder  is  stated  to  be  from  ten  to  twenty  grains,  this  tincture,  in 
addition  to  being  made  with  an  improper  menstruum,  would  contain 
in  an  ordinary  dose,  sufficient  alcohol  to  seriously  interfere  with  the- 
rernedial  action  of  the  drug ;  the  tincture  of  the  British  Pharmacopoeia 
is  made  with  proof  spirit,  but  still  the  quantity  of  alcohol  is  entirely 
too  large  in  the  full  dose  of  the  preparation. 
The  fluid  extract  recommended  above  should  have  been  admitted,  as- 
it  would  have  proved  to  be,  an  elegant,  pleasant,  and  efficient  addition 
to  that  small  and  very  disagreeable  class  of  medicines  to  which  asafetida 
and  valerian  belong. 
ExTRACTUM  Thuj^  Fluidum. — Fluid  Extract  of  Arbor  Vitce. — 
For  this  preparation  alcohol  was  recommended  as  the  menstruum,  and 
a  sample  thus  prepared  in  December,  1879,  now  contains  only  a  mod- 
erate precipitate,  and  does  not  appear  to  have  undergone  any  other 
change  whatever ;  but  as  arbor  vitse,  when  dry,  is  said  to  be  no  longer 
efficient,  a  tincture  of  the  fresh  tops  would  seem  to  be  preferable  to 
the  fluid  extract. 
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