Am.  Jour.  Pharm.") 
July,  1875.  / 
Elixir  of  Hops. 
such  substances  as  hops,  chamomile-flowers,  arnica  and  similar  sub- 
stances are  under  treatment. 
A  similar  effect  to  that  just  mentioned,  as  occurring  in  ordinary  pre-^ 
liminary  macerations,  will  be  experienced  when  light  and  bulky  drugs 
are  operated  upon,  in  the  long  preliminary  maceration  directed  in  the 
process  of  percolation  of  our  present  "  Pharmacopoeia."  A  few  hours 
after  the  full  compliment  of  menstruum  has  been  put  on  and  the  mass 
set  aside,  the  greater  portion  of  the  alcohol  will  be  found  to  have  set- 
tled to  the  bottom  of  the  mass,  while  the  upper  strata  will  be  left  al- 
most dry,  and,  in  some  instances,  so  shrunken  that  the  mass  is  separ- 
ated from  the  sides  of  the  percolator,  which  often  very  much  interferes 
with  successful  percolation  ;  for  when  the  remaining  portion  of  men- 
struum is  poured  on,  after  the  four  days'  maceration  is  completed,  it 
sometimes  flows  down  between  the  sides  of  the  precolator  and  the 
shrunken  mass  of 'powder,  in  consequence  of  which  there  is  likely  to 
be  a  serious  disturbance  and  derangement  of  the  powder.  This  diffi- 
culty may,  in  a  slight  degree,  be  overcome  by  again  carefully  adjusting 
the  powder  by  moderate  pressure  before  the  addition  of  more  men- 
struum. 
As  a  consequence  of  this  difficulty,  large  flakes  or  portions  of  the 
impacted  mass  often  separate  from  their  moorings  and  rise  to  the 
surface  of  the  supernatant  liquid.  This  I  have  often  experienced,  to 
my  utter  disgust  and  chagrin. 
I  feel  quite  confident  that  the  elixir  of  hops,  as  prepared  by  the  pro- 
cess here  presented,  will  prove  a  very  popular  remedy  with  all  physicians 
who  become  acquainted  with  its  formula.  Its  palatableness  as  well  as  its 
elegance  will  commend  it  to  the  favor  of  both  physician  and  patient,  and 
especially  to  those  of  the  former  who  are  sagacious  enough  to  consult 
their  own  as  well  as  their  patient's  interests,  by  prescribing  pleasant 
remedies. 
My  opinion  is  that  we  cannot  have  too  many  palatable  remedies, 
especially  when  the  formulas  for  their  preparation  are  accessible  to  the 
entire  craft,  and  are  open  to  the  inspection  of  physicians,  who  can  have 
an  opportunity  of  judging  of  their  therapeutic  merits. 
Every  pharmacist  who  improves  the  taste,  appearance  and  general 
elegance  of  any  medicinal  agent  without  impairing  its  medicinal  virtue^ 
is  a  real  benefactor  of  his  race,  and  deserves,  even  if  he  does  not  re- 
ceive, the  blessing  of  every  invalid,  man,  woman  and  child  on  the 
face  of  the  earth.  It  is  only  when  we  are  sick  that  we  can  appreciate 
the  great  blessing  of  agreeable  remedies. 
