REMARKS ON OLEO-RESINOUS ETHEREAL EXTRACTS. 115 
considerable extent, the approval of physicians, and it re- 
presents, so completely, the medicinal power of the drug, 
that nothing is left to be desired, 
ng io. The simplest means of preparing these 
C extracts is to place the substance to be ex- 
t rac t e d . in powder, in a tin displacer, such 
as Fig 10, allowing sulphuric ether to perco- 
late slowly through it until the tincture that 
has passed equals twice the weight of the 
substance, when much soluble matter is 
yielded, as is the case with cubebs, or only 
once the weight of the substance if the ex- 
tract is small, as in the instance of ginger. 
The tincture may now be evaporated spon- 
taneously to obtain the extract, in which 
case the ether is lost, or it may be introduced 
into a distillatory apparatus heated by a 
water bath at 1 20 degrees,until seven-eighths 
of the ether is regained, when the residue 
by exposure in a capsule loses the remains 
of the ether, and is ready for use. 
The ethereal extract of black pepper deposits a consider- 
able amount of piperin by standing, which may be removed, 
as the active properties of the pepper reside in the fluid 
oleo-resin. 
The ethereal extract of cubebs, by long standing, especi- 
ally in cold weather, will deposit crystals of cubebin and a 
waxy matter. The latter is of no value, and the former 
may be easily redissolved by gently heating the extract, by 
dipping the bottle containing it in warm water, occasionally 
agitating it. 
The ethereal extract of capsicum is a dark reddish brown 
liquid, having the same consistence as that of cubebs, and 
an intensely pungent, burning taste. This extract has,sofar 
as I am acquainted, never been applied in medicine. It 
may advantageously be used for internal administration, 
