BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 311 
syrup with water. It is insoluble in alcohol and 
ether, and by boiling its solution we obtain car- 
amel. It does not undergo vinous fermentation, 
except by the action of some acid which con- 
verts it into a glucose. Milk sugar, up to this 
time, is rather used as an inert vehicle for sup- 
plying the place of some ingredient, as is the 
case with the Dovers powder, substituting Milk 
sugar for potassium sulphate, which should 
never have been done. 
Syrupus Fuscus, Molasses, also known as 
Treacle, Theriaca and Saccharifeet.—Obtained 
in the manufacturing and refining of sugar. 
Molasses occurs in various colors and degrees 
of consistence from a very dark semi-fluid to a 
light brown, honey-like syrup. All the grades 
are sweet to the taste and fermentable, and not 
crystallizing by rest or evaporation, having a 
specific gravity of 1.40. By boiling the juice of 
the cane sugar in vacuo, the quantity of sugar 
is increased and the molasses diminished. 
