Extractum Nucis Vomicae Fluidum (U. S. P.)—Fluid Extract of Nux Vomica.
Related entry: Nux Vomica (U. S. P.)—Nux Vomica
Preparation.—"Nux vomica, in No. 60 powder, one thousand grammes (1000 Gm.) [2 lbs. av., 8 ozs., 120 grs.]; acetic acid, fifty cubic centimeters (50 Cc.) [1 fl℥, 332♏︎]; alcohol, water, each, a sufficient quantity. Mix alcohol and water in the proportion of seven hundred and fifty cubic centimeters (750 Cc.) [25 fl℥, 173♏︎] of alcohol and two hundred and fifty cubic centimeters (250 Cc.) [8 fl℥, 218♏︎] of water. Moisten the powder with one thousand cubic centimeters (1000 Cc.) [33 fl℥, 391♏︎] of the mixture, to which the acetic acid had previously been added, and let it digest, in a well-covered vessel, in a warm place, during 48 hours. Then pack it in a cylindrical glass percolator, and gradually pour menstruum upon it, until the nux vomica is practically exhausted. Distill off the alcohol by means of a water-bath, transfer the remainder to a tared capsule, evaporate it until it weighs about two hundred grammes (200 Gm.) [7 ozs. av., 24 grs.], and allow it to become cold. Then determine the weight exactly, remove four grammes (4 Gm.) [62 grs.] of the mass, and assay this by the process given under extract of nux vomica (see Extractum Nucis Vomicae), using the amounts of liquids there directed for two grammes (2 Gm.) [31 grs.] of dry extract. From the results thus obtained ascertain, by calculation, the amount of total alkaloids in the remainder of the mass, and then add to the latter, first, three hundred cubic centimeters (300 Cc.) [10 fl℥, 69♏︎] of alcohol, and afterward a sufficient quantity, of a mixture of 3 volumes of alcohol and 1 volume of water, so that each one hundred cubic centimeters (100 Cc.) [3 fl℥, 183♏︎] of the finished fluid extract shall contain one and five-tenths grammes (1.5 Gm.) [23 grs.] of total alkaloids"—(U. S. P.).
Description, Medical Use, Dosage.—(See Nux Vomica). This liquid is about one-tenth as strong as the extract of nux vomica. A fluid extract comparing with this one may be made by dissolving the proper amount of the solid extract in an hydro-alcoholic menstruum, one-fourth part of which is water. Dose, 1/4 to 3 minims.
