“Take any quantity of jalap root, very well bruised:  pour upon it as much spirit of wine as will cover the root to the height of four fingers, and digest them together in a sand heat, till a tincture is extracted.  Filter this tincture through paper, put it into a glass cucurbit, and distil one half of the spirit.  Pour on the residiuum a sufficient quantity of water; the resin will be precipitated to the bottom; which is afterwards dried for use , with a very gently heat.” – London Dispensatory – 1753