_Preparations._—A few hints on these may be useful to the uninitiated. _Infusions._—In preparing these, the following points require attention: _a_, the solid ingredients should be cut into small pieces or slices, or bruised in a mortar, so that the water shall readily penetrate into the substance; _b_, the water should be _boiling_; _c_, the vessel or _chattie_ containing the ingredients on which the boiling water has been poured, should be covered over to prevent evaporation, and set aside till the liquid is cold, when it should be strained through a muslin or thin rag. In hot climates infusions soon spoil, hence they should be freshly prepared every other day at the furthest. _Decoctions._—These differ from Infusions so far that the ingredients are subject to the process of boiling. The requisite quantity of water having been heated to boiling-point, the solid ingredients, prepared as for infusions, are to be introduced, and the whole boiled in a covered vessel for the specified period. The liquid whilst hot should be strained and set aside in a covered vessel till cold. Like infusions, they rapidly become spoiled in hot climates. _Tinctures._—These are formed by macerating the solid ingredients, prepared as directed for Infusions, in a bottle with the specified quantity of spirit, for seven days or more, occasionally shaking the same to ensure the spirit acting thoroughly on the ingredients. At the end of the specified period it should be strained, and the clear liquid set aside in a cool place in well-stoppered bottles, for use. Great care is necessary to prevent evaporation; hence if a glass-stoppered bottle is used, softened wax should be carefully placed round the stopper, which should be further secured by a cap of thin leather or wax-cloth tied tightly over it. It is thought by many that evaporation of spirit takes place less rapidly in a closely fitting _corked_ bottle than in one provided with a glass stopper. Very serviceable corks, especially for temporary use, may be made out of Sola, the material used for hats, &c. In either case layers of wax and the leather are advisable. Under the most favourable circumstances evaporation to a greater or lesser extent will take place in hot climates; hence by long keeping, the tincture acquires increased strength, and in regulating the dose of the more active tinctures, as of Opium or Datura, the fact ought to be borne in mind, or serious consequences may ensue. _Powders._—When an article is ordered to be taken in the form of powder, it should be pulverised as finely as possible. There is little difficulty in this when a large quantity of the article is required to be kept in store, as is generally advisable, as the natives, by the aid of the simple machinery which they employ in making "Curry powder," will reduce the hardest woody ingredients to the requisite state of fineness. When only a few grains or a small quantity