130 THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 



of Syrup of Citric Acid as prepared at present. It should be en- 

 tirely eliminated from this preparation. 



The small percentage of sugar to each bottle of magnesia in the 

 60 c.c. of syrup employed is insufficiejit to offset the intense sour 

 taste of the citric acid. 



For what reason should you add the same thing twice, at differ- 

 ent times? 



The amount of sugar should be increased to a least 60.0 gm. to 

 each bottle, instead of 51.0 as is now the case, and not in the form 

 of citric acid syrup. The required amount of carbonate of mag- 

 nesia, citric acid and corrected amount of sugar should be put into 

 a large white enameled container and water at temperature of 85 

 or 90° C. slowly added. 



This eliminates the addition of syrup separately and the filling 

 of the bottle with water. 



If magnesia shall be flavored, let it be done alike by all phar- 

 macists. 



Syrup citric acid contains tincture fresh lemon peel and when 

 made accordinging to the U. S. P. the resulting product is cloudy 

 and really unfit for use on that account. Every pharmacist knows 

 that essential oils and water will not make a clear solution and yet 

 the U. S. P. says to add 10 c.c. to fresh lemon peel to make 1,000 

 c.c of syrup. 



About 50 per cent, of the pharmacists can tell when they have 

 a tincture fresh lemon peel that would really compare with the 

 U. S. P. test for aldilyde as citral. 



Few pharmacists obtain the same kind of good lemons, rich in 

 oil cells. Some have lemons almost as hard as trap-rock and expect 

 to get lemon oil. out of the peel. Then again, some pharmacists 

 grate the peel and loose the active constituent, while others cut off 

 the peel and also cut the inner white portion, which should be re- 

 jected because it makes the finished tincture very acrid. 



Now, it is no more wrong to make essence of lemon from lemon 

 oil, than it is to make essence (spirits peppermint) U. S. P. from 

 peppermint oil. 



Consequently tincture of lemon pe'el (note I leave ont the word 

 fresh) should be of uniform quality and strength, and should be 



