Physio-Medical Therapeutics, Materia Medica and Pharmacy

Podophyllin, Resinoid of Podophyllum.
Podophyllin, No. 50 powder, lb. av. 1
Acetic Acid, oz. 1
Water,
Alcohol, of each a sufficient quantity.
Place the podophyllum in a suitable macerating vessel and pour on sufficient alcohol to thoroughly
saturate, cover closely and macerate 4 or 5 days, mixing each day so as to insure thorough saturation, transfer
to a centrifuge or percolator and displace, adding more alcohol until the drug is exhausted (about 1 3/4 pints
of percolate), evaporate or distill off the alcohol till the fluid is as thick as molasses; to one pint of water add
the acetic acid, cool to a temperature of 40 or 50 deg. F. and slowly stir in the thick extract, let stand till all
precipitation ceases, decant the supernatant liquid and wash the precipitate by pouring on fresh cold water
and decanting two or three times, spread the precipitate on a thin muslin or flannel stretched over a frame
and when thoroughly dry reduce to a fine powder.
The alkaloids are made commercially by processes which the manufacturers keep strictly secret, the
general plan is to proceed as in the above formula for resinoids, using hydrochloric acid instead of acetic,
and after decanting the first fluid it is made alkaline with ammonia or soda and the precipitate returned to it,
shaking and allowing it to settle, then decanting and washing with cold water. Or the drug in very fine No. 80
powder is mixed into a paste with fresh lime dried and then digested in alcohol, decanted and acidulated,
then precipitated as in the above formula, washed thoroughly with acidulated cold water, dried and
powdered. Some agents yield better therapeutic products with the resinoid, while others are better with the
alkaloidal treatment.
SUPPLEMENT.
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AGRIMONIA EUPATORIA.
Agrimony. See Page 52.
This agent improves the appetite, tones the digestive organs and assists nutrition. It checks profuse,
catarrhal secretions and is. serviceable in cholera infantum and congestions of the mucous membrane
generally. The following will be found valuable in acute and chronic catarrh, with it the nostrils and throat
may be sprayed three or four times daily.
F. E. Agrimonia Eup. m xxx
Glycerine, dr. i
Aqua Rosae, q. s. oz. i
ALNUS SERRULATA.
Tag or Small Alder. See Page 57.
The following is an alterative formulated by Dr. M. C. Keith.
Alnus Serrulata lbs. ii
Iris. Versicolor lb. i
Larix Americana
Xanthoxylum Bark
Capsicum aa. lb. ss
Soft Water gals. iv
Boil twenty minutes.; strain and add three quarts of New Orleans Molasses; boil into a syrup and
skim. When cold add one quart of alcohol to one gallon of the preparation. Dose, a dessertspoonful before
eating.
ALPINIA OFFICINARUM.
Galangul. Bombay Root. East Indies.
The root is a stimulating, spicy, warming, aromatic alterative.