110 
ON THE DEPOSIT IN INFUSUM CINCHONA SPISSATUM. 
In the Pharmacopoeia of 1788, Elixir of Vitriol is omitted, the College 
ordering in its place, Acidum vitriolicum dilutum , which under the modernized 
name of Acidum sulphuricum dilutum , has been continued in all subsequent 
editions. 
As the mixing of sulphuric acid with alcohol gives rise to the formation of 
sulphovinic acid, it is obvious that these elixirs may differ in chemical composi¬ 
tion from Dilute Sulphuric Acid. D. H. 
(The following letter on the same subject has been received from Mr. Harvey :—) 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL. 
Sir,—As applications are continually made to me for the formula of Mynsicht’s 
Acid Elixir since I have prescribed it, and as I find but few are acquainted 
with it, I beg permission for the insertion of these few lines in your Journal, to 
inform those of your readers who are not familiar with the name of the acid, that 
it is a Prussian preparation, and to be read in the Pharmacopoeia of that nation. 
I have taken some pains to examine the article at many of the dispensing esta¬ 
blishments in London, and as I find great variety, both as to taste and colour, I 
am led to believe the aloes wood has been omitted, as in the Edinburgh form. 
This I consider explains the fact; but which I think so important that it should 
be noticed. However, my object is to give this mode of publicity in your 
columns that it may prevent delay on the part of the dispenser, and less suspicion 
on that of the patient waiting so long for the prescription. 
Most obediently yours, 
2, Soho Square. W. HARVEY. . 
ON THE DEPOSIT IN INFUSUM CINCHONA SPISSATUM. 
Feeling assured that everything which tends to throw any light upon, or may 
be a possible improvement in the practice of pharmacy, will always be kindly 
received by the readers of the ‘ Pharmaceutical Journal,’ I beg to submit the 
following remarks upon the deposit formed in the Infusum Cinchonae Spissatum 
of the London Pharmacopoeia :— 
Having several times observed a dense crystalline deposit in the bottles in 
which the Infusum Cinchona} Spissatum has been kept, and which was formed by 
repeated depositions from successive quantities of the preparation obtained from 
wholesale houses, I w r as induced to examine it. On removing the deposit from 
the bottle, to which it adhered so firmly that the glass was fractured in the at¬ 
tempt, and washing with a little distilled water to free it from some adhering 
mother-liquor and colouring matter, the deposit was found to be tasteless, 
nearly colourless, quite soluble in water with the aid of a gentle heat; the so¬ 
lution being also colourless. On testing it, I found it to contain a large quan¬ 
tity of lime, and believe the salt to be kinate of lime. The question now arises, 
whence comes the lime ? Certainly not from the bark ; for some of the prepara¬ 
tion made at home with the distilled water after being poured off from the de¬ 
posit formed on standing twenty days, as ordered by the College, gave no 
appreciable deposit after standing six months longer. There appears to be only 
one other source, and that is the water. Is it possible that common water was 
used, instead of distilled water, in preparing those samples in which the deposits 
took place? In such concentrated preparation as this, the purity of the water 
employed is of the highest importance, for the lime salts which all ordinary 
water contains are mostly of difficult solubility, and the presence of such im¬ 
purity is a source of loss to those who do not prepare the Infusum Cinchona 
themselves, as well as very materially affecting the character of the preparation. 
