218 
PHARMACEUTICAL  GLEANINGS. 
GLEANINGS —PHARMACEUTICAL,  CHEMICAL,  AND  MEDICAL. 
Extract  and  Plaster  of  Belladonna. — Mr.  Thomas  Southall, 
(Pharra.  Jour.  Feb.  1858,)  good  authority  on  this  subject,  think? 
the  carefully  dried  leaves  of  narcotic  plants,  when  extracted  by 
diluted  alcohol,  afford  extracts  superior  to  those  obtained  by  the 
inspissation  of  their  expressed  juices.  He  also  recommends  the 
hydro-alcoholic  extract  of  Belladonna,  in  preference  to  the  in- 
spissated juice  for  making  Belladonna  plaster.  Ordinary  ex- 
tract of  belladonna,  when  used,  is  softened  by  water  with  the  aid 
of  heat  till  of  a  syrupy  consistence,  and  then  sufficient  alcohol 
added  to  precipitate  the  gum  and  other  matter  insoluble  in  that 
fluid.  After  filtration  the  alcohol  is  regained  by  distillation  and 
the  evaporation  continued  till  the  extract  has  a  thick  honey-like 
consistence,  when  it  is  incorporated  with  the  proper  proportion 
of  adhesive  plaster  previously  melted.  Thus  made,  Belladonna 
plaster  adheres  firmly  to  the  skin  and  is  more  readily  spread. 
Oomp.  Fluid  Extract  of  Teplirosia  Virginiana. — Dr.  B.  0.  Jones 
of  Atalanta,  Georgia,  recommends  a  preparation  made  by  boiling 
eight  ounces  of  Tephrosia  Virginiana,  (the  plant,)  and  two  ounces 
of  Humex  acutus  in  four  quarts  of  water  till  reduced  to  one  quart 
and  then  strain.  When  intended  to  be  kept,  mix  with  an  equal 
bulk  of  diluted  alcohol  or  brandy,  and  half  its  weight  of  sugar, 
macerate  for  several  days,  and  strain  through  muslin. 
The  dose  of  this  preparation  is  one  to  two  tablespoonfuls.  Dr. 
Jones  describes  this  medicine  as  a  mild,  stimulating  tonic,  having 
a  slight  action  on  the  bowels,  and  the  secretive  organs  general- 
ly," and  applicable  in  the  treatment  of  many  diseases,  especial- 
ly in  a  certain  stage  of  typhoid  fever,  where  there  is  little  use 
of  active  medicine.  Dr.  II.  E.  Griffith  (Medical  Botany,  238) 
says  of  this  plant  that  "  the  roots  were  used  by  the  Indians  as  a 
vermifuge,  before  the  settlement  of  the  country  by  the  whites, 
and  are  a  popular  remedy  in  many  parts  at  the  present  time, 
the  mode  of  administration  is  the  decoction,  which  is  said  to  act 
powerfully,  and  to  be  as  effectual  as  Spigelia ;  it  has  not,  as  far 
as  can  be  ascertained,  been  employed  in  regular  practice  ;  but 
it  deserves  a  fair  trial,  as  other  species  are  possessed  of  active 
qualities,  especially  of  a  purgative  character." 
