Formula for the Sulphate of Rhubarb. 91 



Art. XVI. — Formula for the Preparation of the Sulphate 

 of Rhubarb. 



Philadelphia^ Oct. 29, 1824. 



To THE Editor, 

 Dear Sir, 



Having succeeded in the preparation of sulphate of rhu- 

 barb, which has been administered with success and satis- 

 faction by several of the faculty of this city, I am indu- 

 ced to offer you my formula for the next Journal, as it dif- 

 fers somewhat from that given by A. Nani in Vol. VII; 

 should you esteem it worthy you will greatly oblige 

 Yours very respectfully 



GEO. W. CARPENTER. 

 No. 294 Market-st. Philad. 



Boil for half an hour 6 lbs. 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. Wiien 

 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 then remains a strong 

 solution of Rhubarb, to which add as much sulphuric 

 acid as will exactly neutralize it, evaporate this slowly to 

 dryness, the residuum will be of a brownish red colour, in- 

 termingled with brilliant specks, possessing a pungent styp- 

 tic taste, soluble in water, and its odour that of the native 

 Rhubarb. 



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 



