_Obs._ This extract is given in the usual cases in which colchicum is
employed.--_Dose_, 1 to 4 gr., every third or fourth hour. (Thomson.) "A
favorite remedy of Dr Hue, of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in the early
stages of acute rheumatism. The dose is 1 gr. every four hours."
(Pereira.)
3. (Acetic; ACETIC EXTRACT OF MEADOW SAFFRON; EXTRACTUM COLCHICI ACETICUM
(B. P.)--_a._ (B. P.) Crushed fresh corms, previously peeled, 19; acetic
acid, 1; stir together, press, boil, and strain through flannel, and
evaporate to a soft extract.--_Dose_, 1 to 2 gr. with an equal weight of
liquorice powder.
_b._ (Wholesale.) Dried corms, 14 lbs.; acetic acid (pyroligneous), 6
pints; distilled water, 5-1/4 gall.; digest for 14 days, express, filter,
and evaporate. Product, 2-1/2 to 3 lbs.
_Obs._ The above extracts are generally prepared from the dried corms, and
hence the very uncertain and inferior quality of those commonly met with.
They also possess less activity than pharmacop[oe]ial preparations. They
rapidly get dry and crumbly, and, unless a little spirit and oil of cloves
are added, will scarcely keep a week in warm weather without becoming
mouldy.--_Dose_, 1 to 3 gr. two or three times a day. It is much stronger
than the common extract, and contains the acetate of colchicine. Sir C.
Scudamore prefers the acetic extract prepared by the formula _b_
(_above_).
4. (Alcoholic; EXTRACTUM COLCHICI ALCOHOLICUM, L.--P. Cod.). As EXTRACT OF
BOX. More active than even the acetic extract. All the preparations of
colchicum are poisonous in large doses.
=Extract of Colo'cynth.= _Syn._ EXTRACT OF BITTER APPLE; EXTRACTUM
COLOCYNTHIDIS (Ph. L. & E.), E. C. SIMPLEX, E. C. MOLLE, L. _Prep._ 1.
(Ph. L.) From colocynth pulp (cut in pieces and the seeds removed), by
simple maceration in cold water for 36 hours, frequently pressing it with
the hands, and afterwards strongly pressing out the liquor, which must be
strained before evaporating it.
2. (Ph. E.) From the decoction. This is the plan adopted at Apothecaries'
Hall, and in the laboratory generally. Many houses do not even remove the
seeds.
_Obs._ This extract rapidly gets hard, crumbly, and mouldy by keeping. For
the remedy, see observations on EXTRACT OF COLCHICUM, _above_.--_Dose_, 5
gr. to 20 gr.; as a cathartic. Colocynth pulp yields above 65% of extract.
3. (Alcoholic; EXTRACTUM COLOCYNTHIDIS ALCOHOLICUM, L.)--_a._ (Ph.
Baden.) As EXTRACT OF ANGELICA--Ph. Bad.)
_b._ (P. Cod.) From a tincture prepared with proof spirit. Much more
active than the simple extract.--_Dose_, 2 to 7 gr.
4. (Dry; EXTRACTUM COLOCYNTHIDIS SICCUM, L.)--(Ph. Bor.) As the last, but
using spirit of the sp. gr. ·900 (about 16 o. p.), digesting at a tepid
heat, evaporating to dryness, and powdering.--_Dose_, 1 to 6 gr.
=Extract of Colocynth (Compound).= _Syn._ COMPOUND EXTRACT OF BITTER
APPLE, CATHARTIC EXTRACT; EXTRACTUM CATHARTICUM, E. COLOCYNTHIDIS
COMPOSITUM, B. P. _Prep._ 1. (B. P.) Colocynth free from seeds, 6; extract
of Socotrine aloes, 12; scammony, or resin of scammony in powder, 4; hard
soap in powder, 3; cardamoms free from capsules in fine powder, 1; proof
spirit, 160. Macerate the colocynth in the spirit for four days, press out
the tincture, distil off the spirit, and add to it the extract of aloes,
the soap, and the scammony; then evaporate the residue by a water bath to
a pilular consistence, adding the cardamoms towards the end of the
process.--_Dose_, 2 to 5 gr., with 2 or 3 gr. of extract of hyoscyamus to
prevent griping.
2. (Ph. L. 1836.) Colocynth pulp (sliced, without the seeds), 6 oz., proof
spirit, 1 gal.; digest with a gentle heat for 4 days, express, strain, and
add, of extract of aloes (Ph. L. 1836), 12 oz., powdered scammony, 4 oz.,
Castile soap (cut small), 3 oz., and evaporate (distil) to a proper
consistence; adding, towards the last, powdered cardamoms, 1 oz.
3. (Wholesale.) The formulæ adopted by the wholesale druggists are mere
modifications of that of the Ph. L. 1809; water being used instead of
spirit as the menstruum, with actual benefit, as we honestly believe, to
the quality of the preparation. The following are extensively employed by
those who do most in this article, and we can speak highly of the quality
of the products obtained by their use.
_a._ Turkey colocynth, 18 lbs., is boiled in about 20 times its weight of
water for five or six hours; to the strained decoction is added hepatic
aloes, 40 lbs., which are boiled until dissolved, when the solution is
decanted. In the mean time the colocynth is exhausted with a second
quantity of water (less than the first), and the strained liquor is added
to the undissolved residuum of the aloes, and boiled for a few minutes;
after which it is drawn off and mixed with the first decoction of aloes;
the mixed liquors are then allowed to stand until quite cold (commonly
until the next day), to deposit the resinous portion. The liquor is next
decanted or drawn off, and set evaporating as quickly as possible; as soon
as the consistence of treacle is arrived at, the whole is allowed to cool
considerably, and moist sugar (clean), 4 lbs., and Castile soap, 10 lbs.
(previously melted with a little water), are added; powdered scammony, 6
lbs., is next gradually sifted in, the extract all the time being
assiduously stirred by a second person. Lastly, the heat is further
moderated, and the stirring continued until a rather harder consistence is
acquired than is proper for the extract, when the steam is wholly 'shut
off,' or the vessel removed from the heat, and as soon as the whole has
become sufficiently cool to prevent any considerable evaporation of the
spirit, essence of cardamoms, 2 lbs. (say 1 quart), is expertly stirred
in; and the extract at once (whilst still warm) put into stone jars or
pots, and tied or covered over for store or use. The product is usually
labelled 'EXT. COLOCYNTH. COMP. OPT.' It looks well, and smells very
aromatic, and is really an excellent preparation.
_b._ Turkey colocynth, 2-1/4 lbs.; hepatic aloes, 5-1/2 lbs.; powdered
scammony, 1-1/2 lb.; powdered cardamoms, 6 oz. (or essence, 1/2 pint);
Castile soap (genuine), 1 lb. 2 oz.; pale moist sugar, 1/2 lb.; proceed as
last. This produces a beautiful article, and of unquestionable quality,
equally effective, and milder in its action than the College preparation.
It is labelled and sent out as EXT. COLOCYNTH. COMP. PH. L. (1836).
4. (Ph. L. 1809.) Colocynth, 6 dr. (6 parts); aloes, 1-1/2 oz. (12 parts);
scammony, 1/2 oz. (4 parts); hard soap, 3 dr. (3 parts); cardamoms, 1 dr.
(1 part); as No. 3, _a_ (nearly).
_Qual., &c._ Compound extract of colocynth is often adulterated with acrid
cathartics to make up for the deficiency or inferiority of its proper
ingredients, and foreign matter often becomes mixed with it by the use of
impure scammony. The presence of cape aloes may usually be detected by the
nauseous odour; chalk (an article frequently present in bad scammony), by
placing a little ball of the extract in a glass tube, and pouring over it
some dilute hydrochloric or acetic acid, when an effervescence will ensue
if that substance be present; jalap, scammony adulterated with fecula, and
other starchy substances, by the filtered decoction of the extract turning
blue on the addition of tincture of iodine; gamboge, by the decoction
becoming deep red on the addition of liquor of potassa, and by a filtered
alcoholic solution of the extract forming a yellow emulsion with water,
which becomes transparent and assumes a deep-red colour on the addition of
caustic potassa; and further, by this solution (if the alkali is not in
excess) giving a yellow precipitate with acids and with acetate of lead, a
brown precipitate with sulphate of copper, and a very dark brown one with
the salts of iron; also by the ethereal solution of the extract dropped on
water yielding an opaque yellow film, soluble in caustic potassa if it
contains gamboge.
_Dose_, 3 gr. to 15 gr. It is a safe and mild, yet certain, purgative. It
may be mixed with calomel without the latter being decomposed. 2-1/2 or 3
gr., mixed with an equal weight of blue pill and taken overnight forms an
excellent aperient in dyspepsia, liver complaints, &c. See ABERNETHY
MEDICINES.
_Obs._ There are few formulæ which have undergone so many alterations in
the hands of the College as that for compound extract of colocynth. Before
1809, proof spirit was ordered to be employed as the menstruum, and,
omitting the soap, the preparation resembled that of the Ph. L. 1836. In
1809, the College directed water to be used instead of spirit, and added a
certain quantity of soap. In the next edition of the Pharmacop[oe]ia
(1815), the soap was again omitted; but in the edition of 1824, the
formula of 1809 was again adopted, substituting, however, proof spirit for
the water. These directions were also continued in the edition of 1836. In
the last London Pharmacop[oe]ia (1851) the formula for this extract is
omitted altogether, and in its place a pill (PILULA COLOCYNTHIDIS
COMPOSITA) is inserted.
The compound extract of colocynth and the simple and compound extracts of
sarsaparilla are in greater demand in the wholesale trade, and are sold in
larger quantities at a time, than all the other medicinal extracts put
together. As a proof, if it were necessary, that honesty is the best
policy, it may be mentioned that a certain metropolitan druggist,
remarkable for the superiority of this preparation, has obtained no
inconsiderable fortune by its sale alone; while the host of miserable
vendors of the evaporated decoction of musty colocynth seed, Cape aloes,
worthless scammony, and scentless cardamoms, sold under the name, attempt
to ruin each other by offering their rubbish at a price that precludes the
possibility of a large profit, or even of the establishment of a
respectable connection.
=Extract of Conia.= See EXTRACT OF HEMLOCK.
=Extract of Contrayer'va.= _Syn._ EXTRACTUM CONTRAYERVÆ, L. _Prep._
(Palat. Cod.) From contrayerva root, as EXTRACT OF CINCHONA--Ph.
L.--_Dose_, 10 gr. to 1/2 dr.; as a diaphoretic tonic in low conditions of
the system.
=Extract of Copai'ba.= _Syn._ RESINOUS EXTRACT OF COPAIBA; EXTRACTUM
COPAIBÆ, E. C. RESINOSUM, L. _Prep._ (Mr Thorn.) From balsam of copaiba,
by distilling off the oil until the residuum assumes the consistence of an
extract.--_Dose_, 10 to 20 gr., or more. One of the many useless
preparations which encumber modern pharmacy. It may be taken in 3 dr.
doses without any perceptible effect beyond a fit of indigestion.
=Extract of Copal'che.= _Syn._ EXTRACTUM COPALCHI, E. CORTICIS C., L.
_Prep._ From copalchi bark (_Croton pseudo-China_), as EXTRACT OF
CASCARILLA, which it for the most part resembles.--_Dose_, 1 to 3 gr.
=Extract (Fluid) of Cotton Root.= _Syn._ EXTRACTUM GOSSYPII RADICIS
FLUIDUM (Ph. U. S.). Cotton root in very fine powder, 16 oz. (troy);
macerate with glycerin, 3 fluid oz. (old measure); rectified spirit, 8 oz.
(old measure); water, 5 oz. (old measure), in closed percolator for 4
days; then let the percolation commence, and finish it by adding dilute
alcohol (eq. vols. of alcohol ·835 and water) until 24 oz. (old measure)
have been obtained; reserve the first 14 oz., and evaporate the remaining
10 oz. (to which previously add 1 fluid oz., old measure) of glycerin to 2
fluid oz. (old measure), and mix with the reserved portion.
=Extract of Couch Grass.= _Syn._ EXTRACT OF DOG'S GRASS; EXTRACTUM
GRAMINIS, L. _Prep._ 1. (P. Cod.) From the root of couch grass, or dog's
grass (_Triticum repens_), as EXTRACT OF BISTORT--P. Cod.