PHARMACY. 
39-1 
tible. A substance having an affinity to 
resin is found in several animal secretions; 
and the animal acids do not greatly differ 
from the vegetable compounds of the same 
class. 
We now proceed to our detail of the in- 
dividual processes in pharmacy . In so doing 
we shall pursue the plan adopted by Mr. 
Murray ; of giving, not a translation of each 
separate process, both from the London and 
Edinburgh Pharmacopoeias ; but wherever the 
formula of the first differs in no essential 
point from the last, .we shall confine our- 
selves to a statement of this last, and give at 
the head of the article the name by which it 
is distinguished in either. We have thus 
chosen the Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia as in a 
manner the basis of the present article, and 
this merely on account of its more recent re- 
vision than that of the London, and the titles 
•of medicines being made for the most part 
more conformable to the present improved 
condition of pharmaceutical chemistry. With 
the above-mentioned author, however, we 
shall point out when it occurs, “ any import- 
ant difference either in proportion, composi- 
tion, or mode of conducting the process,” in 
the directions of the two colleges, and at the 
end of each division add those preparations 
which are peculiar to the Pharmacopoeia Lon- 
tlinensis. 
While thus* we shall make the article as 
brief as the subject will admit of, we shall at 
the same time, it is presumed, ensure the ad- 
vantages of a treatise more in detail. 
PART II. 
the preparations and compositions 
OF MEDICINES. 
Simplicium quorundam medicamentorum 
prwparationes. 
Preparation of some simple medicines. 
Carbonas calcis pneparatus, prepared car- 
bonat of lime, Ed. Creta pneparata, Lond. 
Carbonat of lime (whether the softer variety | 
called chalk, or the harder, crab’s-slones j 
and crab’ s-eyes), being reduced to powder 
in an iron mortar, and levigated on a por- j 
phvry-stone, is to be put into a vessel of ; 
considerable size, and water poured upon ‘ 
it ; after the vessel has been frequently agi- i 
tated, the water is to be poured offloaded j 
with a fine powder, which, when it has all j 
subsided, is to be dried, and the coarser I 
particles which the water could not sus- j 
pend are to be again levigated and treated j 
in the same manner. 
Taese calcareous carbonates, which are 
all of the same nature, are used as antacids. 
Lose one or two drachms. 
Carbonas ferri pnrparutns, prepared car- 
bonat of iron, Ed. Ferri rubigo, Lond. 
Purified iron filings to be frequently moist- 
ened with water, till they become rust, 
which is to be rubbed to a fine powder. 
An active chalybeate. Dose from 10 to 
20 grains. 
Carbonas zinci impurus praeparatus, pre- 
pared impure carbonate of zinc, Ed. Lapis 
calarainaris, Lond. . 
The preparation of impure carbonat of zinc 
roasted by those who make brass, is to be 
c on 'ucted in the same manner as the car- 
bonat of lime. 
This powder is the basis of the common 
’ cerate. It is sprinkled on the skin in the 
cutaneous inflammations of children. 
Ferri limatura purificata, purified filings of 
iron, Ed. 
j A sieve being placed over the filings, a nvag- 
j net is to be applied in order to attract the 
pure iron through its apertures upwards. 
Ferri oxidum nigrum purificatum, purified 
black oxide of iron, Ed. 
i Let the scales of the black oxide of iron, 
found at the anvils of workmen, be treated 
with a magnet in the same manner ; for the 
magnet attracts only the more small and 
pure scales, leaving those which are larger 
and less pure. 
Oxidum zinci hnpurum prxparatum, pre- 
; pared impure oxide of zinc, Ed. Tutia, 
: Lond. 
; To be prepared as the carbonat of lime. 
Tutty is employed with the same intention 
, as calamine. 
| Sulphas aluminas exsiccates, dried sulphat 
of argil, Ed. Alumen ustum, Lond. 
Let sulphat of argil be melted in an earthen 
or iron vessel, and heat applied until the 
liquid ceases to boil. 
1 his preparation is used as an escharotic. 
>Sulphur sublimatum latum, washed sub- 
limed sulphur, Ed. Flores sulphuris loti, 
Lond. 
Take of sublimed sulphur one pound ; water 
four pounds; boil the sulphur a little with 
the water, then pour the water off, and free 
the sulphur of acid by the affusion of cold 
water; lastly, dry the sulphur. 
This perhaps is a superfluous process. 
Sulphur prcecipitatum, Lond. 
l ake of sulphurated kali (sulphuretum po- 
tassa?) six ounces ; distilled water one 
pound and a half; diluted vitriolic (sulphu- 
ric) acid as much as necessary ; boil the 
sulphurated kali in the distilled water until 
it is dissolved: iiltre the liquor through 
paper, and add the diluted acid. Wash 
the precipitated powder until it becomes 
insipid. 
This preparation of sulphur is from its 
whiteness useful in forming ointment. 
Sulphuretum antimonii praeparatum, pre- 
pared sulphuret of antimony, Ed. Antimo- 
niunj pneparatum, Lond. 
To be prepared in the same manner as car- 
bonate of lime. 
Mel despumatum, clarified honey. 
Liquify honey in a water-bath, and remove 
the scum. 
Herbarum etflorum exsiccntio, drying of 
herbs and flowers. 
Herbs and flowers are to be dried with the 
gentle heat of a stove, or a common fire, in 
such a quantity that the exsiccation may be 
effected as speedily as possible; for in this 
manner their virtues are best preserved. The 
indication of this is their retaining their native 
colour. The leaves of hemlock, and other 
plants containing a subtle volatile oil, after 
being dried, are to be rubbed to powder, 
and preserved in glass-vessels well stopped. 
Scilla maritima exsiccata, dried sea-quill, 
Ed. Scilla exsiccata, Lond. 
Let the root of the sea-squill be cut trans- 
versely into thin slices, after its external 
covering has been removed, and dried by 
a gentle heat. 
If when rendered friable, the squill retains 
its bitterness and acrimony, the drying pro- 
cess has been properly conducted. It is in 
this state t hat the squill is chiefly used in me- 
dicine. Dose from one to three grains. 
Pulparum extract io, extraction of pulps, 
Ed. Pulparum pneparatio, Lond. 
Boil those fruits which afford pulp, if unripe 
or if ripe and dry, with a little water; then 
express the pulp through a hair-sieve, and 
gently boil it in an earthen vessel, stirring 
it frequently lest it burns, until it assumes 
the consistence o' honey. The cassia fis- 
tula pulp is to be boiled from the bruised 
pod, and the water evaporated to a due 
consistence. When fruits are ripe and 
fresh, the pulp may be squeezed through a 
sieve without previous boiling. 
The following preparations are only found 
in the London Pharmacopoeia: 
Ammoniaci punlicatio, purification of gum 
ammoniac. 
Boil impure ammoniac in water until it softens, 
and by a press strain it through a hempen 
bag: let the resinous matter have time to 
subside. Evaporate the water, mixing to- 
wards the end of the evaporation the resin- 
ous and gummy parts. Assafcetida and 
other similar gum-resins may be purified 
in the same way. Any gum also which 
melts easily,' such as gaibanum, may be 
purified by putting it into an ox-bladder 
and keeping it in boiling water, till it be- 
comes so soft that it may be pressed through 
strong linen doth, and freed from its im- 
purities. 
Styracis purificatio, purification of storax. 
Having dissolved storax in alcohol, strain the 
liquor, and distil it with a gentle heat to a 
proper consistence. 
Cornu cervi ustio, burning of hartshorn. 
Burn pieces of hartshorn until they become 
white, then rub them to a very fine powder. 
Millepede pneparatio, preparation of mil- 
lepedes. 
Suspend these, inclosed in a thin linen bag, 
over proof spirit heated in a dose vessel, 
that they may be killed by the vapour, 
and rendered friable, 
Spongice ustio, burning of sponge. 
Bruise sponge cut into small pieces; and when 
freed from strong matter, burn it in a dose 
iron vessel until it becomes black and fri- 
able; then rub it into a fine powder. 
Conserves, conserves. 
^ The conserves that are retained in the Pli. 
Ed. are the conserva corticis exterioris re- 
centis fructus citri aurantii, radula abrasa ; 
conserve ot the outer rind ot tne orange, 
rasped by a grater, Ed. Conserva aurantii 
hispanionalis corticis exterioris, Lond. Con- 
serva frucUis rosse can i me maturi, a semini- 
bus eorumque pube sollicite purgati, con- 
serve of the fruit of dog-hips carefully freed 
from the seeds and included down, Ed. Con- 
serva cynosbati, Lond. 
Conserva rosie gallicxe nondum explicito- 
rum, conserve of the unblown petals of the 
red rose, Ed. Conserva rosac rubric, Lond. 
In each of these the vegetable is to be beat 
into a pulp, and during the beating three 
