Tinctura Cocci Cacti.—Tincture of Cochineal.
Related entry: Coccus (U. S. P.)—Cochineal
(Modern shorthand: 1:6.4 50 %)
Preparation.—"Take of cochineal, in fine powder, 2 ½ ounces (av.); proof-spirit, 1 pint. Macerate for 7 days in a closed vessel, with occasional agitation. Strain, press, filter, and add sufficient proof-spirit to make 1 pint (Imp.)"—(Br. Pharm., 1885). Or, use diluted alcohol and form into a tincture by maceration, as explained under Tincturae, and make 1 pint of tincture.
Action, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—This tincture is calmative and antispasmodic, and may be given in pertussis, asthma, hysteria, and nervous diseases, in doses of from 20 drops to a fluid drachm. It is now chiefly employed for coloring (deep-red) various fluid mixtures, although a solution of 1 drachm of No. 40 carmine, in a mixture of glycerin (4 ounces), water (12 ounces), and ammonia water (sufficient quantity) is to be preferred for this purpose.
Related entry: Cudbear
Other Coloring Tinctures.—TINCTURA PERSIONIS (N. F.), Tincture of cudbear. "Cudbear, in fine powder, one hundred and twenty-five grammes (125 Gm.) [4 ozs. av., 179 grs.]; alcohol, water, of each, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Pack the cudbear in a suitable percolator, and percolate it with a mixture of one (1) volume of alcohol and two (2) volumes of water, until one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎] of tincture are obtained. Note.—This preparation is intended as a coloring agent, when a bright-red tint or color is to be produced, particularly in acid liquids "—(Nat. Form).
TINCTURA PERSIONIS COMPOSITA (N. F.), Compound tincture of cudbear.—"Cudbear, twenty grammes (20 Gm.) [309 grs.]; caramel, one hundred grammes (100 Gm.) [3 ozs. av., 231 grs.]; alcohol, water, of each, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic Centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Mix one (1) volume of alcohol with two (2) volumes of water. Macerate the cudbear with seven hundred and fifty cubic centimeters (750 Cc.) [25 fl℥, 173♏︎] of the menstruum, during 12 hours, agitating occasionally, and then filter through paper, and add the caramel, previously dissolved in one hundred and twenty-five cubic centimeters (125 Cc.) [4 fl℥, 109♏︎] of water. Then pass enough of the before-mentioned menstruum through the filter to make the whole measure one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Note.—This preparation is intended as a coloring agent, when a brownish-red tint or color is to be produced"—(Nat. Form).
