2l6 



THE ALLMNI JOURNAL. 



This formula has the disadvantage of 

 using a large excess of the bisulphide, 

 and the tendency to deflagration of the 

 phosphorus as the latter evaporates. It 

 is true the pills apparently keep well, as 

 after nearly seven years I find they still 

 contain phosphorus in its free condition. 

 Probably some of the bisulphide gets 

 locked up in the interior of the pills, and 

 thus fixes the phosphorus, as they have 

 the aromatic taste of the bisulphide still, 

 and if cut in two are phosphorescent in 

 the dark. 



Messrs, Allen & Hanbury also pub- 

 lished a formula, in which they employed 

 the phosphorus solution in bisulphide. 

 This mass, I am told, works well on a 

 large scale, but it is not advisable, as I 

 have before mentioned, that phosphorus 

 should be combined with resins, which 

 may interfere with its therapeutic activi- 

 ty. These pills are better adapted for 

 pearl coating than for covering with var- 

 nish extemporaneously. Pearl coating 

 covers a multitude of imperfections. 

 The formula is as follows : 



PIL. PHOSPHORI CUM SAPONE. 



Phosphorus gr. 2 



Bisulphide of carbon .q. s. or m. 10 



Hard soap powder gr. 35 



Guaiacum resin powder gr. 35 



Glycerin drops 12 



Licorice root, powder, - .q. s. or gr. 12 



to make a mass of 100 grains. To be 

 divided into pills of the strength requir- 

 ed and varnished or "coated" in the 

 ordinary way. 



Many pharmacists have written on the 

 subject of phosphorus pills, including 

 Messrs. Proctor, A. C. Abraham, Ger- 

 rard, Haflfenden, Appleby, and Mill- 

 house, most of whom recommend the 

 use of bisulphide of carbon as a first sol- 

 vent. Many of their formulae I have 

 tried, but to meet the requirements of an 

 official formula, after numerous tentative 

 experiments; I suggest the following: 



PIL. PHOSPHORI. 

 Phosphorus ^ gr. 10 



Oil theobroma, cut small gr. 490 



Bisulphide carbon fl. gr. 200 



Dissolve the phosphorus in the bisul- 

 phide of carbon contained in an amber- 

 colored stoppered phial, add the oil of 

 theobroma, and dissolve by agitation 

 aided by the heat of the hand; then, if 

 necessary, increase the volume of 750 

 fluid grains by the addition of more bi- 

 sulphide of carbon. This solution will 

 contain i part by weight of phosphorus 

 in 75 fluid parts. If cooled below 59° 

 F. it partially solidifies, but readily lique- 

 fies at a slightly higher temperature. 



When dispensed after liquefication by 

 the warmth of the hand, take of 



Above solution fl. gr. 54 



Gum acacia, powder gr. 18 



Syrup by weight -- gr. iS 



Mix the solution quickly with the 

 acacia, add the syrup, triturate into a 

 unitorm mass, and when most of the bi- 

 sulphide has evaporated, roll it into 

 twenty-four pills. 



The mass of which these pills are com- 

 posed will contain about i per cent, and 

 each pill about 1-33 grain of phosphorus. 

 Pills of other strengths mav be prepared 

 by dividing the mass into a proportion- 

 ate number of pills. 



The pills, after a little exposure to al- 

 low still more of the bisulphide of car- 

 bon to escape, may be coated with an 

 alcoholic solution of sandarach, or other 

 covering, they should be freshly prepar- 

 ed, and kept in a dark place in well 

 closed amber colored bottles. 



The quantity of syrup I have suggest- 

 ed is 18 grains; this may be added from 

 a dropping tube after ascertaining the 

 weight of a drop. In practice I find a 

 large drop weighs 2 grains. 



If varnished, the pills should be thor- 

 oughly dried before being bottled, else 

 the traces of bisulphide left remaining in 



