the neck. The flask is held by
means of the wire over the flame of a spirit lamp, or else placed in
some sand warmed in an old iron saucepan over the fire, care being
taken not to place more of the flask below the sand than the portion
occupied by the ingredients.

673. Infusion.

Infusion is one of the most frequent operations required in making up
medicines, its object being to extract the aromatic and volatile
principles of substances, that would be lost by decoction, or
digestion; and to extract the soluble from the insoluble parts of
bodies. Infusions may be made with cold water, in which case they are
weaker, but more pleasant. The general method employed consists in
slicing, bruising, or rasping the ingredients first, then placing them
in a common jug (which should be as globular as possible), and pouring
boiling water over them. Cover the jug with a cloth folded six or
eight times, but if there be a lid to the jug so much the better. When
the infusion has stood the time directed, hold a piece of _very
coarse_ linen over the spout, and pour the liquid through it into
another jug.

[TO-MORROW, POOR--OR LIFE ITSELF DENIED.]

674. Decoction.

Decoction, or boiling, is employed to extract the mucilaginous or
gummy parts of substances, their bitter, astringent, or other
qualities, and is nothing more than boiling the ingredients in a
saucepan with the lid slightly raised. Be sure never to use an iron
saucepan for astringent decoctions, such as oak-bark, galls, &c., as
they will turn the saucepan black, and spoil the decoction. The
enamelled saucepans are very useful for decoctions, but an excellent
plan is to put the ingredients into a jar and boil the jar, thus
preparing it by a water bath, as it is technically termed; or by using
a common pipkin, which answers still better. No decoction should be
allowed to boil for more than ten minutes.

675. Extracts.

Extracts are made by evaporating the liquors obtained by infusion or
decoction, but these can be bought much cheaper and better of chemists
and druggists, and so can tinctures, confections, cerates and
plasters, and syrups: but as every one is not always in the
neighbourhood of druggists, we shall give recipes for those most
generally useful, and the method of making them.

676. Precautions to be observed in Giving Medicines.

677. Sex.

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