Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1883. 
Weight  by  Measure. 
595 
«der.  It  cuts  and  disintegrates  far  better  than  sand  or  any  similar  sili- 
'Ceous  substance,  and  thus  presents  the  drug  in  a  more  fit  condition  for 
solvent  treatment.  The  object  of  maceration  with  ether  has  been  pre- 
viously explained. 
Lactucic  acid  and  lactucopicrin  are  both  freely  soluble  in  water,  and 
are  obtained  in  solution  when  so  treated.  If  not  wholly  dissolved, 
they  are  taken  up  in  the  further  treatment  of  diluted  alcohol  and  gly- 
cerin, which  also  dissolves  lactucin,  one  of  the  bitter  principles,  but 
.sparingly  soluble  in  water  alone. 
The  use  of  magnesium  carbonate  is  to  serve  several  purposes.  It 
-combines  with  any  free  acids  present  to  render  a  neutral  liquid,  greatly 
lessens  the  excessive  bitterness,  and  decidedly  increases  the  activity  of 
the  solvents  in  the  amount  of  the  principles  extracted.  It,  lastly,  is 
valuable  as  a  clarifying  agent  when  displacement  is  in  order. 
The  purpose  of  prolonged  digestion  is  to  secure  perfect  solution,  and 
-coagulation  of  all  gum,  resinous  or  albuminous  matter  present.  The 
evaporation  of  the  percolate  down  to  6  fluidotinces  is  to  prevent  undue 
•excess  of  alcohol  in  the  liquid,  while  the  last  addition  of  diluted  alcohol 
is  to  have  the  syrup  definite  in  alcohol  strength  to  insure  preservation. 
A  sample  of  the  improved  syrup  (U.  S.  P.  strength)  is  presented. 
It  is  a  clear,  transparent  reddish-brown  syrupy  liquid,  almost  black, 
having  a  strong,  decidedly  narcotic  odor,  similar  to  opium.  It  mixes, 
in  all  proportions,  with  water  without  diminishing  its  transparency, 
possesses  a  pleasantly  bitter  taste,  free  from  acridity,  and  on  continued 
exposure  to  air  undergoes  no  decomposition,  nor  forms  any  fungoid 
.growth  upon  its  surface. 
WEIGHT  BY  MEASURE. 
By  a.  B.  Lyons,  M.  D.,  Detroit,  Michigan. 
The  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia  has  very  wisely  adopted  the  plan  of 
expressing  in  all  its  formulae  the  proportions  of  liquids  as  well  as  of 
solids  in  parts  by  weight.  Many  pharmacists  will  follow  these 
formulae  literally,  but  the  force  of  habit  is  strong,  and  English-speak- 
ing people  generally  are  accustomed  to  measure  rather  than  weigh 
liquids.  Rather  than  change  their  usage  in  this  respect,  they  will  go 
through  the  laborious  calculations  necessary  to  translate  the  language 
of  weights  to  that  of  volumes. 
Aside,  however,  from  this,  it  will  be  often  necessary  to  bring  into 
