c. (Ph. E.) Sarsaparilla, 1 lb.; boiling water, 4 pints; digest 2 hours, then bruise the root, boil it for 2 hours, filter, and express the liquid; repeat the coction with water, 2 pints, as before; evaporate the mixed liquors to the consistence of a thin syrup, and, when cold enough, add of rectified spirit q. s. to make up 16 fl. oz. Each fl. oz. represents 6 dr. of the root, and 6 fl. oz. of the decoction.
d. (Ph. D.) Sarsaparilla, 1 lb. (avoir.); proceed as before, and add of rectified spirit, q. s. to make the product up to 20 fl. oz. Strength, as the last (nearly). In the Ph. D. 1826 the decoction of sarsaparilla, 1 lb. (troy), was ordered to be evaporated to 30 oz., which with the spirit (2 oz.) made the preparation only half the strength of the present one.
4. (Compound; Extractum sarzæ compositum, E. sarsaparillæ comp., L.) There is no form for this preparation in the Pharmacopœias, but it is nevertheless in immense demand, from its great convenience in dispensing. The following formulæ are employed by one of the wholesale houses that does largest in this preparation:—
a. Guaiacum shavings (from which the small has been sifted), 30 lbs., Italian juice, 24 lbs., mezereon root, 6 lbs., are boiled with water
q. s., for 1 hour; the decoction is then drawn off, and the boiling repeated with fresh water a second and a third time; the mixed decoctions are allowed to deposit for 6 or 8 hours, or longer, and the clear portion decanted and strained through flannel; the liquid is now reduced to the consistence of treacle, when extract of sarsaparilla, 9 lbs., is added, and the evaporation conducted at a considerably lower temperature until near its completion, when the source of heat is removed, and the remaining evaporation conducted at the expense of that retained by the metal of the ‘pan,’ when nearly cold, and just before removing the extracts to the ‘pots’ or ‘jars,’ essential oil of sassafras, 2 dr., dissolved in rectified spirit, 1 quart, is added, and quickly but completely stirred in. The product is a very showy article, if well managed, and weighs about 45 lbs., the precise quantity depending on the quality of the juice employed. It is labelled ‘Ext. Sarzæ Comp.’
b. As the last, but only using 15 lbs. of juice, and that Solazzi. Prod. About 35 lbs. It is labelled and sent out as ‘Ext. Sarzæ Co. Opt.’
c. By any of the forms given under Compound Decoction of Sarsaparilla, either common or concentrated, by continuing the evaporation.—Dose. Same as that of the simple extract.
5. (Fluid Compound; Compound liquor of sarsaparilla.)—a. From any of the preceding formulæ by arresting the evaporation when the fluid has acquired the consistence of a thin syrup, and adding to each pint, when cold, rectified spirit, 4 fl. oz.
b. (Alcoholic—W. Hodgson.) Sarsaparilla (bruised), 16 oz.; liquorice root (bruised), guaiacum wood (rasped), and sassafras bark (sliced), of each 2 oz.; mezereon (sliced), 6 dr.; spirit, sp. gr. ·935 (= 13 u. p.) 7 pints; digest 14 days, express, filter, evaporate to 12 fl. oz.; add of sugar, 8 oz., and as soon as this is dissolved, withdraw the heat. Stronger than the last.—Dose, 1 fl. dr.
c. (Ph. U. S. Extractum Sarsaparillæ Compositum fluidum.) Prep. Sarsaparilla in moderately fine powder, 16 oz. (troy); liquorice root in moderately fine powder, 2 oz. (troy); sassafras in moderately fine powder, 2 oz. (troy); mezereon in moderately fine powder, 360 grains; glycerin, 4 oz. (old measure); rectified spirit, 8 oz. (old measure); water, 4 oz. (old measure). Macerate in a closed percolator for 4 days, and then let the percolation commence, and finish it by adding diluted alcohol (equal volumes of alcohol at ·835, and water), until 2 pints (old measure) have been obtained. Reserve the first 12 oz., having added 4 oz. (old measure) of glycerin to the remainder of the percolate, which evaporate to 6 oz. (old measure), and mix with the reserved portion.