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THE PRESERVATION OF SYRUP OF IODIDE OF IRON. 
are reduced to two,—the tuberous and the fusiform ; the Tampico is an infe¬ 
rior kind, and should only be used in the state of resin ; and that it is necessary 
for the pharmaceutist to know when to use the one and the other. 
Pharmacologists cannot agree as to the plant that yields this variety. Guibourt 
queried whether it was not the Ipomoea mestitlonica , which, according to Choisy, 
is a Mexican product, known there as “ purga.’ 1 This however is doubtful. 
The majority of pharmaceutists, I am persuaded, will not think themselves 
warranted, but will decide that it is improper, to substitute in any preparation 
the Tampico for the true jalap, which has been so highly esteemed for more 
than two centuries, and whose efficacy and certainty of action is beyond the 
slightest doubt. 
40, Aldersgate Street , B.C. 
EESIN OF JALAP. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—Observing in the last number of the Journal a letter from Messrs. 
Smith respecting an examination of some samples of jalap which my younger 
brother had undertaken in the cause of science, and brought before the Confe¬ 
rence, but with which I had nothing to do, I have made inquiry respecting the 
same, and find that the spirituous extract was not washed, as it should have 
been, to ensure a pure resin of jalap. It must be taken, therefore, rather to 
exhibit the quantity of dry alcoholic extractive than of pure resin. On looking 
into the mode he adopted in his examination at the same period of Tinct. Opii, 
I find that no exception can be taken to it. 
Yours respectfully, 
Wm. Southall. 
Birmingham , November 22nd, 1867. 
THE PRESERVATION OF SYRUP OF IODIDE OF IRON. 
TO THE EDITORS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Gentlemen,—Four or five years ago, when experimenting on the preserva¬ 
tion of syrup of iodide of iron, I tried the plan suggested by Air. Tilden, at the 
last meeting of the Society, viz. to exclude the air by means of a superstratum 
of oil, but it failed to answer the purpose, and for some years I have prepared 
the syrup extemporaneously as follows :— 
A solution of iodide of iron, containing 414 grains to the fluid ounce, is sealed 
up hot in stoppered bottles of various sizes from 2 drams upwards: and by add¬ 
ing 40 minims of this solution to each ounce of simple syrup when required, a 
never-varying and nearly colourless preparation is obtained. 
The solution keeps perfectly well; the advantage of using bottles of various 
capacity being that there is no loss by spoiling, when one is opened,—each con¬ 
taining only the quantity to be used at once. 
I am, Gentlemen, yours obediently, 
F. Baden Benger. 
1, Market Place , Manchester , November 20, 1867. 
