514 
EMPLASTRUM  ARNICiE. 
oil,)  +(.835  (sp.  gr.  of  alcohol,)  x5)-f  6  -8590,  which  is 
sufficiently  near  -8626  to  be  admitted. 
This  is  one  of  the  boldest  instances  of  adulteration  that  has 
occurred,  and  points  to  the  necessity  of  our  wholesale  dealers 
being  on  the  look-out.  As  the  transaction  was  through  a  drug 
broker,  we  had  no  means  of  knowing  the  name  of  the  New 
York  party. 
EMPLASTRUM  ARNICJE. 
Br  the  Editor. 
Notwithstanding  the  ill  repute  that  arnica  flowers  have  attained 
among  many  medical  writers,  the  tincture  of  arnica  has  been  of 
late  years  becoming  more  and  more  popular,  as  a  domestic  appli- 
cation to  bruises  and  sprains,  and  some  physicians  esteem  it 
highly  for  the  same  purposes.  Arnica  plaster  has  also  come 
into  use  as  a  strengthening  plaster  for  the  back,  and,  as  an  appli- 
cation to  painful  or  sprained  joints,  it  has  become  quite  popular. 
As  no  formula  for  the  plaster  has,  so  far  as  we  know,  transpired, 
the  following  recipe  is  given  : 
Take  of  Arnica  flowers,  one  pound,  (Troy.) 
Alcohol,  (.835)  three  pints, 
Water,  one  pint, 
Adhesive  plaster  (Era p.  Resince.)  twenty-two  ounces  (Tr.) 
Mix  the  alcohol  and  water  together,  and  pour  two  pints  of  the 
mixture  over  the  arnica,  previously  bruised  finely,  allow7  it 
to  stand  for  48  hours,  pack  it  in  a  percolater,  and  pour  on 
slowly  the  remainder  of  the  alcohol  until  three  pints  of  tincture 
are  obtained.  Evaporate  this  tincture  in  a  water  bath  (or  still,) 
till  reduced  to  a  soft  resinous  extract  (weighing  about  two  ounces 
and  a  quarter,)  and  incorporate  it  by  stirring,  with  the  adhesive 
plaster  previously  melted,  and  form  it  into  rolls. 
Thus  prepared  arnica  plaster  has  a  deep  yellow  brown  color, 
is  uniform  in  texture,  spreads  easily  and  is  adhesive.  Where 
the  tincture  is  ready  made,  it  may  be  used  in  the  same  ratio 
viz  :  Oiij.  to  22  oz.  of  Resin  plaster,  but  it  is  necessary  that 
th:  st  en^th  be  similar  to  the  above. 
