OCR Text |
Show RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE therefore, presents us with an easy means of obtaining immediately an active preparation of ciuchona bark, and with oneof greater strength, than a cold or even a warm infusion, provided it be drunk while tepid, and before it forms any deposition, or if the precipitate be diffused byagitation after it is formed. As the precipitate contains no woodyfibre, or other inert matter, it is extremely probable, that, in very small doses, it would prove, if dried, a very powerful preparation of cinchonabark. Formerly it was supposed that the strength ofa decoction of cinchona bark, and similar substances, was increased by continuing the boiling for a great length of time; but this is now known to be a mistake; because water, at different temperatures, is capable of dissolving only a determinate proportion of its active principles ; and therefore, as soon as it is saturated, But moreover, these iny further decoction is unnecessary. principles, when dissolved in water, are liable to be decomposed, and become inert, by the absorption of atmospheric oxygen; and this decomposition is increased by increase of temperature ; andas boiling constantly presents new surfaces to the action of the air, it is evidently hurtful when protracted longer than what is just necessary to saturate the water. ‘I'en minutes is supposed by the colleges to be sufficient for that purpose. Compounp Tincture oF Peruvian Bark. (Tinctura Cinchonz, sive Corticis Peruviani composita. L. D.) [30 Tincrure oF Crncnona, or Peruvian Bark. Cinchone Officinalis. . Corticis Peruviani. L.) Take of cinchona bark, ounces, L.); Tinctura Cinchone. D. in powder, (Tinctura Tinctura four ounces, (six diluted alcohol, two pounds anda half, (two pints, Led): Digest for seven days, andstrain through paper, FE. This tincture is certainly impregnated with the virtues of cinchona, but not to such a degree that it can be givenin suflicient doses to act as cinchona, without exhibiting more alcohol than what is proper to be given as a mediciue. Indeed, we are afraid that this and other bitter and tonic tinctures, as they are called, are with someonly an apology for dram-drinking, andthat the most apparent effects they produce are those of aslight degree of tonic power with muchof the stimulus of spirit. 151 Take of Peruvian bark, powdered, two ounces ; exterior peel of Seville oranges, dried, one ounce and a half (half an ounce, D.) ; Virginian snake-root, bruised, three drachms ; — saffron, one drachm ; cochineal, powdered, two scruples 5 ———— proef spirit, twenty ounces : Digest for fourteen days, andstrain. This is said to be the same with the celebrated Huxham’s tincture of bark. As acorroborant and stomachic it is given in doses of two er three drachms, but when employed for the cure of intermittents it must be taken to a greater extent. Extract or Cincrona. (Hxtractum CinchoneOfficinalis. E.) Takeof cinchona bark, in powder, one pound; alcohol, four pounds: Digest for four days, and pouroff the tincture. Boil the residuumin five pounds of distilled water for fifteen minutes, and filter the decoction, boiling hot, through linen. Repeat this decoction and filtration, with the same quantity of distilled water, and reduce the liquor, by evaporation, to the consistence of thin honey. Drawoff the alcohol from the tincture, bydistillation, until it also become thick; then mix the liquors thus inspissated, and evaporate themin a bath of boiling water, saturated with muriate of soda, to a proper consistency. Exrracr or Pervyran Bark wira THe Restn. (Extractum Corticis Peruviani cum Resina. L.) Take of Peruvian bark, reduced to coarse powder, one pound ; go rectified spirit of wine, four pints: Digest it for four days, and pour off the tincture; boil the residuumin ten pints of distilled water to two; then strain the tincture and decoction separately, evaporating the water from the decoction, and distilling off the spirit from the tincture, until each begins to be thickened. Lastly, mix the resinous with the aqueous extract, and make the mass fit for forming into pills. K 2 |