Extractum Hydrastis Fluidum (U. S. P.)—Fluid Extract of Hydrastis.
Related entry: Hydrastis (U. S. P.)—Hydrastis
Preparation.—"Hydrastis, in No. 60 powder, one thousand grammes (1000 Gm.) [2 lb. av., 3 ozs., 120 grs.]; glycerin, one hundred cubic centimeters (100 Cc.) [3 fl℥, 183♏︎]; alcohol, water, each, a sufficient quantity to make one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]. Mix the glycerin with six hundred cubic centimeters (600 Cc.) [20 fl℥, 138♏︎] of alcohol, and three hundred cubic centimeters (300 Cc.) [10 fl℥, 69♏︎] of water, and, having moistened the powder with three hundred cubic centimeters (300 Cc.) [10 fl℥, 69♏︎] of the mixture, pack it firmly in a cylindrical percolator; then add enough menstruum to saturate the powder and leave a stratum above it. When the liquid begins to drop from the percolator, close the lower orifice, and, having closely covered the percolator, macerate for 48 hours. Then allow the percolation to proceed, gradually adding, first, the remainder of the menstruum, and then a mixture of alcohol and water, made in the proportion of six hundred cubic centimeters (600 Cc.) [20 fl℥, 138♏︎] of alcohol to three hundred cubic centimeters (300 Cc.) [10 fl℥, 69♏︎] of water, until the hydrastis is exhausted. Reserve the first eight hundred and fifty cubic centimeters (850 Cc.) [28 fl℥, 356♏︎] of the percolate. Distill off the alcohol from the remainder by means of a water-bath, and evaporate the residue to a soft extract; dissolve this in the reserved portion, and add enough menstruum to make the fluid extract measure one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎]"—(U. S. P.).
Description, Medical Uses, and Dosage.—(See Hydrastis). This preparation has a dark brownish-yellow color, and the characteristic and bitter taste of golden seal. The glycerin has no value that we can discover, and might well be replaced with advantage by a like volume of alcohol. Dose, 10 to 60 minims.
