PHARMACY. 



Pulvis cerussae compositus, Lond. pow- 

 der of ceruse, compound. 



Pulvis contrayervae comp.Lond. powder 

 of'contrayerva, compound. 



Pulvis ipecacuanhae comp. Lond. pulvis 

 ipecacuanha et opii. Edin. powder of Do- 

 ver's. 



Pulvis myrrh ?e comp. Lond. powder of 

 myrrh compound. 



Pulvis scammonii comp. Lond. Edin. 

 Dubl. powder of scammony, compound. 



Pulvis scammonii comp. cum aloe, Lond. 

 powder of scammony compound with 

 aloes. 



Pulvis scammonii comp. cum calome- 

 lane, Lond. powder of scammony with 

 calomel. 



Pulvis senze compositus, Lond. powder 

 of senna, compound. 



Pulvis sulphatis aluminas comp. Edin. 

 powder of styptic. 



Pulvis tragacanthae compositus, Lond. 

 powder ot tragacanth, compound. 



CLASS XXI. Confectiones. CONFECTIONS, 



Under this head we include all those 

 preparations which have hitherto been 

 loosely denominated conserves, electua- 

 ries, and confections ; the difference in the 

 preparation of which being too trifling for 

 distinct heads. 



Confections are, for the roost part, com- 

 positions of recent vegetable matters and 

 sugars, beaten or otherwise mixed toge- 

 ther into an uniform mass. The sugar 

 should be pounded by itself, and passed 

 through a sieve before it be mixed with 

 the vegetable mass, for without this it 

 cannot be properly incorporated. It is ob- 

 vious that, from the large admixture of 

 sugar, only substances of considerable ac- 

 tivity can be taken with advantage in this 

 form. Conserves are hence, for the most 

 part, only auxiliary to medicines of greater 

 activity ; as, for example, for reducing in- 

 to boluses or pills the more ponderous 

 powders, as calomel, oxides of iron, and 

 other mineral preparations. 



Electuaries are composed chiefly of 

 powders mixed up with syrups, &c. into 

 such a consistence, that the powders may 

 net separate in keeping, that a dose may 

 be easily taken up on the point of a knife, 

 and not prove too stiff to swallow. 



Electuaries receive chiefly the milder 

 alterative medicines, and such as are not 

 ungrateful to the palate. The more pow- 

 erful drugs, as cathartics, emetics, opiates, 

 and the like (except in officinal electuaries 

 to be dispensed by weight), are seldom 

 trusted in this form, on account of the un- 



certainty of the dose: disgustful ones, 

 acrids, bitters, foelids, cannot be conveni- 

 ently taken in it ; nor is the form of an 

 electuary well fitted for the more ponder- 

 ous substances, as mercurials, these being 

 apt to subside on keeping, unless the com- 

 position be made very stiff. 



The lighter powders require thrice their 

 weight of honey, or syrup boiled to the 

 thickness of honey, to make them into the 

 consistence of an electuary : of syrups of 

 the common consistence, twice the weight 

 of the powder is sufficient. 



Where the common syrups are employ- 

 ed, it is necessary to add likewise a little 

 conserve, to prevent the compound from 

 candying and drying too soon. Electuaries 

 of Peruvian bark, for instance, made up 

 with syrup alone, will often, in a day or 

 two, grow too dry for taking. 



This is owing to the crystallization of 

 the sugar. Deyeux, therefore, advises 

 electuaries, confections, and conserves, to 

 be made up with syrups from which all 

 the crystallizable parts have been separat- 

 ed. For this purpose, after being suffici- 

 ently evaporated, they are to be exposed 

 to the heat of a stove as long as they form 

 any crystals. The syrup which remains, 

 probably from the presence of some vege- 

 table acid, has no tendency to crystallize, 

 and is to be decanted and evaporated to 

 a proper consistence. In hospital practice, 

 the same object may be obtained much 

 more easily by using molasses instead of 

 syrups. 



The quantity of an electuary directed 

 at a time, in extemporaneous prescription, 

 varies much, according to its constituent 

 parts, but is rarely less than the size of a 

 nutmeg, or more than two or three ounces. 



The conserve are, 



Citri aurantii, Edin. aur- hispalensis, 

 Lond. conserve of orange peel. 



Rosx caninae, Edin. cynosbati, Lond. 

 conserve of hips. 



Rosre rubrae, Edin. Lond. rosx, Dubl. 

 conserve of red rose buds. 



Lujulx, Lond. acetosellac, Dubl. con- 

 serve of wood sorrel. 



Pluck the leaves from the stalks, the 

 unblown petals from the cups, taking off 

 the heels. Take the ouler rind off the 

 oranges by a grater. 



When prepared in this way, beat them 

 with a wooden pestle in a marble mortar, 

 first by themselves, afterwards with three 

 times their weight of double refined su- 

 gar, until they be mixed. 

 ^The only exceptions to these general di- 

 rections, which are those of the London 

 college, are, that the London college adds 



