otherwise, (some cases we imagine from the impracticability of the published process, the defenders had no intention of employing the same,) almost all have been assailed by competing manufacturers, parties writing in their interest, and theorists generally. But at no time, and under no circumstances do we remember to have read such wholesale, and I am compelled to say unprofessional denunciation of the whole class of preparations known as "Fluid Extracts" as in the article referred to above. That fluid extracts, concentrated, saturated, and essential tinctures (so called), and other fluid preparations, have fallen greatly into discredit among the profession, is certainly true, and is due to the want of a practical knowledge of pharmacy, and a lack of common honesty in the manufacture of some of these articles. But to make the broad assertion that they are all TRASH, without even giving us a chance to discover that the writer knows of what he speaks, would appear to us as an assertion unprofessional in its character.

Did the present paper admit, we think we could demonstrate; that fluid extracts are, have been, and will continue to be the "stand by" of the practitioner; that they can be made concentrated without heat, retaining the FULL therapeutic powers of the crude agent; that in no other form of preparation can this condition be obtained; that the powdered concentrations although highly valuable, (as quinine is valuable although it does not represent the FULL active medicinal properties of bark,) when properly investigated and understood, do not do so; that there are some manufacturers left, with common honesty; that when the laws of percolation are properly understood, it will be found that it is not necessary to use a very large amount of menstruum to WASH OUT the active matter, in fact, that it can be obtained without any WASHING at all; and that the words fluid extracts is the most scientific term to apply to concentrated fluid preparations.

Although the article referred to was evidently written in the interest of some favorite manufacturing house, the profession has been too much abused in the matter of fluid. VOL. IV. NO. 1.

2

extracts, to bear the rude shock of being told, by a professional chemist, that he has examined the whole trash known as fluid extracts, and finds them not only pharmaceutically worthless, but dishonestly manufactured.

It is well known that there has been some dishonesty and much incompetency displayed in the manufacture of these most valuable and indispensable preparations, and it becomes in our estimation, the duty of the profession to report the value of such as they may employ. But in so doing they will assist the cause of truth without prejudice by naming the particular preparation, and manufacture so examined, and the mode of examination. The careful physician will then have the opportunity to discern for himself, between the worthless and valuable.

It is further claimed in the article referred to, that the fluid extracts of such articles as hydrastis canadensis, podophyllum, &c., "are simply liquors (from which the active principle has been abstracted) boiled down to a suitable consistence, into the vile trash they choose to call hydraSTINE," &c., (we have yet to learn that the active principle of hydrastis canad. is hydrasTINE.) If this be true of any manufacture, it is certainly worthy of the highest censure. How it can be done without a certainty of detection is beyond our capacity to understand; but presuming on the authority of the writer that such is the fact, we propose to describe a few simple tests, easily put in practice by the physician in a few moments, requiring very little apparatus and but a nominal

expense.

It is further our intention if time and the valuable space of your journal permit, to present from time to time our research in the matter of fluid extracts and concentrated powders, chemically and pharmaceutically.

This we premise to be a more candid method, and we trust more acceptable to the profession than a wholesale and indiscriminate condemnation of this class of preparations.

The active matter extracted from hydrastis canad. we presume refers to the article sold as "hydrastin." Its name indicates it to be a resinoid; it is really an alkaloid.

The

.

writer calls this hydrastine. Hydrastine, according to the accepted nomenclature, would represent the neutral principle. The preparation sold as hydrastin, and muriate of hydrastia is really the alkaloid berberin.

If a given quantity of fluid extract of hydrastis be slowly evaporated to one quarter its bulk, and then mixed with three or four times its bulk of water, the resin, which is small in quantity, will be precipitated. This can be separated by filtration. To the clear liquid add an equal bulk of saturated solution of muriate of ammonia, and a few drops of hydrochloric acid. This should give in a few moments an abundant yellow precipitate, consisting of a muriate of the yellow alkaloid berberin, with the neutral principle or hydrastine. (If the manufacturer has been sufficiently dishonest to have separated this principle, of course this test will give no precipitate.) Filter as before, and add aqua ammonia in slight excess, when there will be precipitated the white alkaloid hydrastia. This precipitate will be colored to some extent by vegetable pigment. The remaining liquid though still highly colored, contains no active matter. The precipitate caused by mur. ammonia and hydrochloric acid should, if the manipulations be properly managed, weigh when dry about 3 drachms, supposing 1lb. of fluid extract, representing 1lb. of root, be used.

To test the fluid extract of podophyllum for imposition, it is only necessary to evaporate as before to about one third its bulk, then while hot pour into four times its bulk of cold water, slightly acidulated with hydrochloric acid. If properly prepared there will be an abundant precipitate of a light buff color. One pound of fluid extract from one pound of root, should yield about four drachms pure resin (dry). there is no precipitate of course the resin has been previously separated.

If

I feel, Mr. Editor, that no honest manufacturer will fear to have these tests applied, whereas it may serve to unmask those who are lauded at the expense of all the

rest.

Let us have full and open discussion on this subject; it is

one of vital importance to all; but I would suggest that it is both imprudent and unfair to make assertions that cannot be demonstrated. JAMES DAY, M.D.

Empire Chemical Laboratory, 221 E. 26th St., New York.

New Uses of the Bromide of Potassium.

BY P. ALBERT MORROW, M. D.

THIS remedy is now having quite a run of popularity, and it is to be hoped that a more extended experience will confirm the wide range of therapeutic properties which have been attributed to it. We fear, however, that, like many new agents, its claims have been urged with more pretension than its real value warrants. There seems to be a disposition on the part of many physicians to prescribe drugs of recent introduction with but little discrimination, and without waiting to note carefully their effects in a great number of cases, to hastily conclude, because their use seems to be productive of good results in one or two instances, that they possess specific virtues for that particular class of affections. The bromide is a remedy of unquestionable therapeutical worth, and is destined, no doubt, to occupy a prominent position among our curative agents. Certain experiments on animals which have recently been made by MM. Martin-Damourette and Pelvet, will serve to explain its physiological and therapeutic action. From a large number of experiments they found that "the irritability of a muscle or of the heart is extinguished in one to three minutes by the contact of the bromide, solid or in solution. The motor-sensitive nerves lose their excitability by the direct contact of the bromide. The excitability of the spinal cord is also directly extinguished by it. The brain is also affected; a true anæsthetic sleep is produced like that by chloroform or ether. The respiratory movements are at first enfeebled, then abolished. The heart is paralyzed like all the other muscles, but far from being especially affected, it resists longest in cases of regular bromism. The capillary

circulation is constantly lessened. The lowering of temperature is constant. The urinary secretion is the only one much affected in animals; it is always increased.

"The constipation which many patients present under treatment by the bromide shows a decrease of the intestinal secretion, and, moreover, lessened sensibility and contractility of the muscular layer of the intestines. The same effect is produced in the pharynx, œsophagus, and bronchi, and in all the muscles of organic life. This explains the success of the bromide in spasm of those muscles, (dysuria, dysphagia, whooping-cough, asthma, &c.)

"The anaphrodisiac property of the bromide resides chiefly, if not wholly, in its vaso-motor influence, which appears to be the only one common to all the more certain anaphrodisiacs.

"The effects of the bromide are always direct, that is, due to the conflict of this agent with the tissues, whether at the point of application, where it is carried by the circulation, or in the organs of elimination. The specific character of the bromide consists in its affecting equally the functions of the sensitive and motor nerves, the brain and spinal cord, as well as the muscles. The heart alone often resists for some hours. From the commencement the capillary circulation and the pulsation of the heart are diminished, and the lowering of the temperature is dependent on this. The respiration is only influenced through the muscles. The secretions of the mucous membranes and the skin are reduced in proportion to the anæmia of their surfaces. The genital depression is due to the contraction of the afferent vessels of the corpus cavernosum.

"The general sedative effect of the bromide on the nervous, muscular and. vascular systems, explains the success obtained by its employment in general or local neurosis or hyperemia without the necessity of theorizing with regard to any special affinities.”

IN THE VOMITING OF PREGNANCY.-Dr. D. W. Hodgkins, of the Boston Medical Journal, speaks very highly of the bromide in the vomiting of pregnancy. He does not regard