4604. Fluid Extract of Blessed Thistle

4604.    Fluid Extract of Blessed Thistle. Take 16 troy ounces blessed thistle (carduus benedictus) in No. 40 powder, dampen it with about 6 ounces dilute alcohol, and pack it in a suitable glass percolator; having covered the surface with a piece of muslin or a layer of clean sand (which is more convenient), displace with dilute alcohol. When 1 pint of liquid shall have passed, put it aside in a warm place for spontaneous evaporation until reduced to 10 fluid ounces. Continue the percolation with diluted alcohol until 2 more pints of liquid have passed; to these add 6 ounces sugar and reduce by evaporation over a water-bath to 6 fluid ounces, adding, while still hot, the 10 ounces of concentrated tincture; on cooling, the mixture becomes slightly turbid, but by the addition of a few drops of alcohol the resinous matter is redissolved, making a dark brown fluid extract which may be filtered if necessary.

4605. Fluid Extract of Cinchona

4605.     Fluid Extract of Cinchona. Take cinchona (calisaya) in powder, 8 troy ounces; simple (officinal) syrup, 4 fluid ounces ; glycerine, 4 fluid ounces; alcohol, concentrated and diluted, a sufficient quantity. Moisten the cinchona with 6 fluid ounces of diluted alcohol; allow it to stand in a covered jar for three hours, and then transfer it to a cylindrical percolator. Pack it firmly, and gradually pour upon it diluted alcohol, until 12 fluid ounces of the tincture have been obtained. Set this aside, and continue the percolation with dilute alcohol, until the cinchona is thoroughly exhausted. To the last percolate add the syrup and glycerine, and evaporate by means of a water-bath to about 10 fluid ounces. To this add the reserve tincture, and continue the evaporation to 14 fluid ounces. Remove from the water-bath, and, when nearly cold, add sufficient alcohol to make the whole measure 16 fluid ounces. Each pint of the fluid extract contains nearly 21/2 ounces of alcohol. (See No. 4577 (Class No).)

4606. Fluid Extract of Pareira

4606.    Fluid Extract of Pareira. Digest for 24 hours 1 pound pareira root, in coarse powder, in 1 pint boiling distilled water ; then pack it in a percolator, and displace 1 gallon, or until the pareira root is exhausted. Evaporate over a water-bath to 13 fluid ounces; when cold add 3 fluid ounces rectified spirit, and filter through paper. This is the officinal formula of the British Pharmacopceia, consequently avoirdupois weight and imperial measure are to be used in preparing it. The dose consists of 1 to 2 fluid drachms.

4607. Moore's Fluid Extract of Vanilla

4607.    Moore's Fluid Extract of Vanilla. Take 8 troy ounces vanilla, and an equal weight of crushed loaf sugar. Slit the pods from end to end with a knife; then take them in small bundles, held tightly between the fingers, and cut them transversely into very small pieces. Of these, beat small portions at a time in an iron mortar, with a little of the sugar, until reduced to a damp powder, which must be rubbed with the hand through a No. 20 sieve; any coarse particles which will not pass through the sieve must be returned to the mortar, and, with fresh portions of vanilla and sugar, again treated as before. This is to be continued until the whole is reduced to a No. 20 powder. This is then to be mixed with 5 pints of a mixture of 3 parts alcohol and 1 part water, and the whole introduced into a 1 - gallon stone jug, which must be tightly corked. The jug is then placed in a water-bath, resting upon folds of paper, and the mixture digested tor 2 hours at a temperature of from 160° to 170° Fahr. The upper part of the jug must be kept cool (to prevent the undue expansion of vapor), by wrapping around it a towel or other cloth kept saturated by having cold water squeezed upon it from a sponge every 15 or 20 minutes. The jug should also be removed from the bath after each application of the water, and its contents well shaken, keeping the hand upon the cork to prevent its expulsion, and perhaps consequent loss of material. When the digestion has been completed, and the mixture has cooled, it is to be expressed through muslin. Pack the residue, previously rubbed with the hands to a uniform condition, firmly in a glass funnel prepared for percolation, and gradually pour upon it first the expressed liquid, and when this has all disappeared from the surface, continue the percolation with a mixture of 3 parts alcohol and 1 part water, until 8 pints of percolate are obtained.