Tinctures are alcoholic preparations made by extraction of the important medicinal principles of vegetable drugs. Two exceptions are the Tincture of Iodine and Ferric Chloride, which are alcoholic solutions of chemical substances.

Of the more potent drugs, the strengthof the Tincture is such that 100 mils of the finished product represents 10 Gm. of the drug. The majority of Tinctures are prepared by percolation, a few by maceration, and a few others require special methods. All Tinctures should be kept in tightly stoppered bottles, free from light, and in a cool place.

Prepare the official Tinctura Opii Camphorata by "Type Process M" (maceration): Make a menstruum of 5 mils glycerin mixed with 120 mils dilute alcohol; in this place 0.5 Gm. each of powdered opium, benzoic acid, and camphor, and 0.5 mil oil of anise. Set it in a moderately warm place, allowing maceration to proceed for 3 days, occasionally agitating the mixture. Transfer to a filter, collect the filtrate, and wash the residue with dilute alcohol to make the total product equal 125 mils.

Note: Appearance.................................................

Odor .......................................................................................

Color .........................................................................................

Taste ....................................................

(Instead of the above the Compound Tincture of Lavender may be used for study).

Prepare the official Tinctura Rhei Aromatica by "Type Process P" (percolation): Mix 30 Gm. rhubarb, 6 Gm. saigon cinnamon, 6 Gm. clove, and 3 Gm. myristica (all in No. 40 powder). Make a menstruum consisting of 15 mils glycerin, 75 mils alcohol, and 60 mils water; with this mixture make the combined powders evenly and distinctly damp, transfer to a percolator, and let stand covered for 6 hours; then pack it firmly, saturate it with the menstruum so a stratum of liquid lies above the powders. Close lower orifice, cover tightly, and let maceration continue 24 hours. Then permit percolation to proceed slowly, gradually adding enough dilute alcohol to make the total equal 150 mils.

Note:

Appearance ........................................................................

Odor ...............................................................................................................

Color ..........................................................................................

Taste ...............................................................................................................

In 15 mils of this Aromatic Tincture of Rhubarb dissolve 0.1 Gm. potassium carbonate; then add 85 mils syrup; mix thoroughly. .

Is the product (aromatic syrup of rhubarb) acceptable to taste and' smell?

There are 54 official Tinctures. Of this large number, two are really liquors (Iodine and Ferric Chloride); fifteen are mere flavoring agents, of which six only are of much use; fourteen of the Tinctures have a well-recognized utility; while the remaining thirty-two might as well be discarded.'

Group A consists of the recognizedly useful Tinctures, all of which are of 10% strength, except the Tinctures of Hydrastis and Rhubarb, which are 20%.

Sample

Alkaloid Cont.

Color

Odor

Taste

Utility

Tinct. Aconiti

0.05%

Cardiac depressant; av. dose, 0.3 mil

Tinct. Belladonnae Fol.

0.03%

Antispasmodic; 0.7 mil

Tinct. Benzoini Comp.

Laryngitis; inhalant

Tinct. Cannabis

Sedative; 0.75 mil

Tinct. Colchici Seminis

0.04%

Antirheumatic ( ?); av. dose, 2 mils

Tinct. Digitalis

Cardiac tonic and irritant; 0.5 mil

Tinct. Hydrastis

0.4%

Mucosa stimulant; 4 mils

Tinct. Hyoscyami

0.006%

Sedative; 2 mils

Tinct. Nucis Vomicae

0.25%

Spinal excitant; 0.5 mil

Tinct. Opii

1%

Narcotic; 0.5 mil

Group A (continued):

Sample

Alkaloid Cont.

Color

Odor

Taste

Utility

Tinct. Opii Camphorata Paregoric

0.05 %

Sedative and soporific; av. dose, 4 mils

Tinct. Opii Deodorati

1%

Sedative, less narcotic; 0.5 mil

Tinct. Physostigmatis

0.015%

Stimulant to parasympathetic; 1 mil

Tinct. Rhei Aromatica

Purge for children; av. dose, 2 mils

Group B: The two hydro-alcoholic solutions:

Sample

Iron Cont.

Color

Odor

Taste

Utility

Tinct. Ferri Chloridi

4.48%

Corrosive hematinic; 0.5 mil (obsolescent)

Tinctura lodi (I, 7% + KI, 5%)

Counterirritant and surface disinfectant

Group C: Useful flavoring tinctures:

Sample

Drug Cont.

Color

Odor

Taste

Utility

Tinct. Aurantii Dulcis

In Syrupus Aurantii

Tinct. Cinnamomi

Carminative, 2 mils

Tinct. Gentianae Comp.

Vehicle

Tinct. Lavandulae Comp.

In Fowler's Solution

Tinct. Limonis Corticis

General flavor

Tinct. Zingiberis

Carminative

Group D: Superfluous flavoring Tinctures: Aurantii Amari, Cardamomi, Car-damomi Composita, Moschi, Myrrhae, Tolutana, Valerianae, Valerianae Ammoniata.

Group E: 10% Tinctures of limited or doubtful utility: Aloes, Cantharidis, Cap-sici, Cinchonae Composita, Gelsemii, Kino, Lobeliae, Sanguinariae, Scillae, Stramonii, Veratri Viridis.

Group F: 20% Tinctures of limited or doubtful utility: Arnicae, Asafoetidae, Benzoini, Calumbae, Cinchonae, Guaiaci, Guaiaci Ammoniata, Lactucarii (50%), Py-rethri, Quassiae, Rhei.