Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts and Processes

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HomeElixirs › Mynsicht's Elixir of Vitriol

Mynsicht's Elixir of Vitriol

This elixir is also known by the name of acid aromatic tincture. Take cinnamon, 2 ounces; lesser cardamoms, cloves, galanga root, and small pieces and dried, and put it into a large strong glass jar with a wide mouth, and pour on it sulphuric ether enough to a little more than cover it; then stop the jar tight with a glass stopper, to prevent its evaporation; set it away in a cool place, and stir it daily with a stick, so that all the lumps may be broken.

At the end of a week drain off the ether, and again pour on as much more, and repeat stirring it every day for a week longer, when it may be drained off as before. Then stop the jar tight, and lay it down on its side, so that all the ether that accumulates near its mouth may be drained off, and repeat doing so until the opium is all dry. Then expose it to the open air for a few days. The sulphuric ether extracts from the opium the narcotine which is its most deleterious principle, and also deprives it of its peculiar noxious odor, so that ginger, of each 1/23 ounce; sulphuric acid (spe- the elixir will not smell of it thereafter. Now cific gravity 1.845), 1 drachm; rectified spirit, to free the opium of the smell of the other, of the ether, (specific gravity .897 to 900), 2 pounds. Mix and to extract its valuable medicinal principles , the acid and spirit, and pour them on the boil it in water, as follows Pour into a tin other ingredients reduced to a coarse powder; boiler 4 gallons pure soft water, and when hct, , and when hot, macerate for 8 days in a close vessel, with (but not boiling), put in the opium, when a frequent agitation, then press it out and strain. great ebullition will take place, which is It should be of a brownish-red color. (Prus- owing to the evaporation of the ether. Then let :sian Ph.) Another formula directs as follows: it boil 10 or 12 minutes, occasionally stirring Take sweet flag root, and galanga root, of it, SO that the lumps of opium may be all each 1 ounce; ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and broken and dissolved. Then set it away till nutmeg, of cach 3 drachms; lemon peel, 4 the next day, when it should be strained drachms; white sugar, 3 ounces; proof spirit, 2 pounds; dilute sulphuric acid, 3 ounces.

Macerate for 6 days, then press and filter, so as to make 27 ounces. (Austrian Ph.) through a cloth strainer, and if there be not 4 gallons of the solution, pour on the residue of opium boiling water enough to make that quantity when it is strained and clear. When

4732. Elixir of Valerianate of Am- in the state of watery solution, it is better to monia. Extract of valerian, 2 scruples; be kept in stone crocks that will hold about fluid extract of valerian, 2 fluid drachms; wa- 2 or 3 gallons each, and in a cool place; after ter, 7 fluid ounces. Dissolve the extract in standing 5 or 6 days the clear solution should the fluid extract and water, filter, and add be carefully dipped off into a large tin can. valerianate of ammonia, 2 drachms; orange- The skimmings and dregs should be strained, be strained, flower water and simple syrup, of each and when clear put with the other. To this 4 fluid ounce. Dose, a tea-spoonful.

4733. Goddard's Elixir of Valerianate of Ammonia. Valerianic acid (from the root), 6 fluid drachms; carbonic acid water, 8 fluid ounces; red Curaçoa cordial, 20 fluid ounces; orange-flower water, 8 fluid ounces; mucilage of gum-arabic, 2 fluid ounces. Satgallons of watery solution, add 5 gallons alcohol and stir the mixture thoroughly; then cover the can tight, so as to prevent evaporation. After standing a few days, the clear elixir may be carefully dipped off into another can, and the dregs at the bottom strained, and, when clear, poured into the other. After urate the valerianic acid with sufficient car- standing undisturbed for a few weeks it will bonate of ammonia diluted with the carbonic be fit to use. It will be equivalent to laudabe equivalent to laudaacid water, then add it to the flavoring ingre- num, both in its strength and the size of its dients and mucilage, and filter. Dose, a tea- dose. spoonful. 4736. Compound Elixir of Taraxa-

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