42 



MUCILAGO ACACIAE 



Acacia, in small fragments 17.5 Gms. 



Distilled Water, a sufficient quantity 



to make 50.0 6ms. 



Place the acacia in a tared bottle or flask having a capacity not 

 exceeding 50 mils, wash the drug with cold water, allow it to drain, 

 and add enough warm distilled water to make the mixture weigh 50 

 grams. Securely stopper the container and agitate it from time to 

 time until the acacia is dissolved. Strain the Mucilage and preserve 

 it in small, well-filled bottles in a refrigerator or in a cool place. 



Noie : — Mucilage of acacia should be frequently prepared and 

 must not be dispensed if sour or mouldy. 



Remarks: — The U. S. P. directs that the mucilage of acacia 

 be prepared from small pieces, not powdered acacia. For general 

 prescription purposes, however, the powder is often used, since its 

 solution can be more readily obtained. 



Mucilage of acacia is used principally to hold insoluble parti- 

 cles in suspension and as an excipient for pills. 



SYRUPI— SYRUPS 



Syrups are concentrated solutions of sugar in water usually 

 medicated or flavored. A concentrated aqueous solution of sugar in 

 water is called "syrup" or "simple syrup." If the substance added 

 to the simple syrup is a pleasant fruit or aromatic, the product is 

 termed a "flavored syrup", while if the material added is of a medi- 

 cinal nature, the product is a "medicated syrup". There are 22 

 official syrups. Many of these are of but little importance so a list 

 will not be given. According to the method used in manufacture, 

 syrups may be classified as follows : 1. Solution with heat, e. g. 

 Syrups Calcis. 2. Agitation of sugar with medicated liquids or 

 simple admixtures without heat, e. g.. Syrups Pruni Virgianae. 

 3. Simple addition of medicated liquids to syrup, e. g.. Syrups Zin- 

 giberis. 4. Maceration or digestion, e. g., Syrupus Picis Liquidae. 



