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Formula for the Sulphate of Rhubarb. 91 
Art. XVI.—Formula aa oe pigeon of the Sulphate 
Philadelphia, Oct. 29, 1824. 
To tHe Epriror, 
Dear Sir, 
Having’ succeeded in the preparation of sae peete of rhu- 
barb, which has been administered with success and satis- 
faction by several of the faculty of this Diy, ] am indu- 
ced to offer you iny formula for the next oe as it dif- 
fers somewhat from that given by A. z; 
should you esteem it worthy you will rently oblige 
Yours very pepapetully 
GEO. W. CARPENTER. 
No. 294 Market-st. Philad. 
Boil for half an hour 6 Ibs. of coarsely bruised Chinese 
Rhubard in 6 galls. of water acidulated with two and a 
half fluid ounces of sulphuric acid, strain the decoction and 
submit the residue to a second ebullition in a similar quan- 
tity of acidulated water, strain as before and submit it 
again to a third ebullition, unite the three decoctions, and 
add by small portions recently powdered lime, constantly 
stirring it to facilitate its action on the acid decoction. When 
the decoction has become slightly alkaline it deposits a red 
flocculent precipitate which is to be separated by passing it 
through a linen cloth and dried, after which reduce it to pow- 
der and digest in three galls. ‘of alcohol at 36° in a water 
bath for several hours, which dissolves the Rhubarbine, 
separate this solution from the calcareous precipitate, distill 
off three fourths of the alcohol, there es remains a strong 
solution of Rhubarb, to whi ich add as much sulphuric 
acid as will exactly neutralize it, srupsciae oe slowly to 
dryness, the residuum will be of a brownish red See in- | 
termingled with brilliant specks, possessing a pungent styp- 
tic nt: soluble in water, and its odour that of the native 
b. 
This preparation is a concentrated form of the active 
principle of that valuable cathartic, separated from the lig- 
neous and mucous portions, and bears the same relation to 
ra 
ae 
so 
