45. To obtain Vegetable Juices by-Expression

45.    To obtain Vegetable Juices by-Expression. The juices of plants are obtained by bruising the fresh leaves in a marble mortar, or in a mill, and expressing the juice which, after defecation for some hours in a cool situation, is either filtered through paper, or strained after coagulating its albu-ninous matter by heat. Some plants require the addition of 1/8 its quantity of water before pressing. The expression of the juice of lemons, oranges, quinces, etc., is facilitated by previously mixing the pulp with clean chopped straw. Mulberries, etc., after being crushed between the hands, are left 3 or 4 days to undergo a slight fermentation, before pressing. A very powerful screw press is required for this purpose. The preservation of the juices of the narcotic plants, and some other vegetables, has lately assumed considerable interest, from these preparations having been proposed as substitutes for the common tinctures. It appears that the juice of young plants just coming into flower, yields only 2/3 the amount of extract which may be obtained from the same quantity of juice expressed from the matured plant, or when the flowers are fully blown; and the strength of the product is also inferior. The leaves alone should be preferably employed, and should be exclusively of the second year's growth, when the plants are biennials.

Bruise the leaves in a marble mortar (on the large scale, in a mill), and submit them to the action of a powerful press; allow the juice to remain for 24 hours in a cold place, then decant the clear portion, add 1/4 part by measure of spirit (90 per cent.), agitate, and in 24 hours again decant the clear, and filter it through paper. Keeps well under ordinary circumstances.

The method directed by the Paris Codex is as follows: to the fresh leaves, bruised in a marble mortar, is added an equal weight of rectified spirit, and after maceration for 15 days, the whole is pressed, and the resulting tincture filtered.

The commencing dose of the narcotic juices is about 5 drops. In the above manner arc prepared the preserved juices of aconite, belladonna, colchicum (corms), hemlock, hen-bane, foxglove, lactuca virosa, taraxacum, etc..

46. To Extract Essential Oil from Wood, Barks, Roots, Herbs etc

46.    To Extract Essential Oil from Wood, Barks, Roots, Herbs etc. Take balm, mint, sage, or any other herb, etc., put into a bottle, and pour upon it a spoonful of ether; keep in a cool place a few hours, and then fill the bottle with cold water; the essential oil will swim on the surface, and may be easily separated.