634 
Thyroid  Extract. 
Aru.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Dec,  1892. 
of  a  little  glycerin,  I  obtained  a  solution  which  was  quite  neutral, 
containing  6  grains  of  jalapin  to  the  fluid  drachm  and  capable  of 
dilution  with  water  in  any  proportion  without  precipitation  of  the 
resin.    The  manner  of  working  was  as  follows: 
Three  hundred  and  eighty-four  grains  of  jalapin  (insoluble  in 
ether)  were  mixed  with  3  oz.  of  strong  solution  of  ammonia  and 
allowed  to  stand,  with  occasional  shaking,  for  two  days.  The 
resulting  solution  was  placed  in  a  water-bath,  2  oz.  of  glycerin 
were  added,  and  the  whole  evaporated,  with  constant  stirring,  until 
ammoniacal  fumes  were  no  longer'given  off,  the  liquid  being  made 
up  when  cold  to  8  fluid  oz.  with  glycerin.  On  trial  in  the  Liverpool 
Royal  Infirmary  this  preparation  was  found  to  be  both  active 
and  reliable.  Subsequently  I  made  in  a  similar  way  a  series  of 
solutions  containing  respectively  resin  of  scammony,  podophyllin  and 
aloin,  all  of  which  turned  out  satisfactorily.  Guaiacum  resin  gave 
a  solution  which  deposited  a  good  deal  on  standing  ;  the  superna- 
tant liquid,  doubtless  ammonium  guaiacate,  was  found  useful  as  an 
addition  to  gargles  and  gelatin  throat  pastilles.  In  publishing  this 
note  I  wish  to  draw  attention  to  a  method  which  Ibelieve  is  capable 
of  extended  application  in  making  liquid  preparations  of  drugs 
which  owe  their  activity  wholly  or  in  part  to  resins  or  resinoid 
bodies — such,  for  instance,  as  cascara  sagrada  and  podophyllum. 
THYROID   EXTRACT:    ITS   PREPARATION   FOR  THE 
TREATMENT  OF  MYXCEDEMA.1 
By  Edmund  Write,  B.Sc,  Lond.  F.I.C.,  Pharmaceutist  to  St.  Thomas'  Hospital. 
The  hypodermic  injection  of  a  glycerin  extract  of  the  thyroid 
gland  of  the  sheep  has  been  advocated  as  a  remedy  for  myxcedema 
(see  British  Medical  Journal,  October  10,  1 891,  and  April  16,  1892). 
In  St.  Thomas'  Hospital  an  extract,  prepared  by  the  method  given 
below,  has  been  used  with  satisfactory  results. 
To  obtain  the  glands,  it  is  best  to  go  to  the  slaughter  house  when 
sheep  are  being  killed.  Take  a  scalpel,  pair  of  forceps,  and  a  stop- 
pered bottle,  all  of  which  must  be  thoroughly  cleansed  and  rinsed 
with  5  per  cent,  aqueous  solution  of  carbolic  acid.  As  soon  as  the 
sheep  is  dead,  have  the  skin  removed  from  the  neck,  and,  with  the 
animal  lying  on  its  back,  make  a  median  incision,  extending  from 
1  From  the  Pharmaceutical  Journal  and  Transactions,  Octbr.  22,  1892,  p.  321. 
