630 
LECTURES ON THE BRITISH PHARMACOPEIA. 
Mistura Cretse lias pretty ranch the characters of the old formulae, though the 
gum which aids in suspending the chalk was stated by Proctor (Pharm. Journ.,. 
2nd ser., vol. i. p. 11) to be present in too small a quantity. 
Mistura Ferri Composita. Bell said (Pharm. Journ. vol. xviii. p. 459), “It 
is an obvious oversight in the London and Dublin Pharmacopoeias that the 
myrrh (in Mistura Ferri Composita) is ordered to be used in powder. The elegance 
and perfection of the preparation depend on the selection of a sound piece of 
myrrh, not at all dry, and which, when carefully rubbed down, makes a good 
emulsion.” The Edinburgh College ordered “ myrrh bruised” in their last 
Pharmacopoeia. The British Pharmacopoeia still orders “myrrh in powder.” 
Mistura Gentianx Composita. This compound mixture—compound in a 
fourfold degree, for it contained two compound infusions and one compound 
tincture ; altogether a compound containing no less than twelve galenical simples; 
stigmatized by the last great pharmacologist quoted as a useless incumbrance on 
the shelves of the druggist (Bell, Pharm. Journ., vol. xviii. p. 460), and admitted 
(ibid., 461) by a member of the London Pharmacopoeia Committee, who also was 
a member of the British Pharmacopoeia Committee, to be inserted in the London 
Pharmacopoeia only to save physicians the trouble of writing three lines instead 
of one—has at last been excluded from the Pharmacopoeia altogether. 
Morphos JIydrociiloras. —The quantitative method of determining the 
purity of this salt, given in the Materia Medica division of the Pharmacopoeia, is 
a new and useful introduction; for if the specimen responds to the conditions 
required, the absence of water, sugar, as found by Morson (Pharm. Journ., vol. 
ix. p. 361), salicin suspected to have been detected by Macfarlan (Pharm. Journ., 
vol. ix. p. 337), and several other possible adulterants, will be ensured. 
Pilulae. — Pilula Aloes Barbadensis is most like the Pilula Aloes cum Sapone 
of the London Pharmacopoeia; but extract of liquorice is omitted, as suggested by 
Proctor (Pharm. Journ., 2nd ser., vol. i. p. 11) ; hard soap replaces soft, as sug¬ 
gested by several pharmaceutists, oil of carraway is introduced, and treacle is re¬ 
placed by confection of roses.. 
Pilula Aloes Socotrince is not like any aloe pill in either of the three old Pharma ¬ 
copoeias. It is obviously constructed on the model of Pilula Aloes Barbadensis, 
probably to give medical practitioners a choice df the two varieties of aloes. If 
it is intended to replace the Pilula Aloes (Socotrince) Composita of the London 
Pharmacopoeia, Proctor’s suggestion to omit the extract of gentian (Pharm. 
Journ., 2nd ser., vol. i. p. 11) is met. It more nearly, however, resembles the 
Edinburgh Pilula Aloes. 
Pilula Calomelanos Composita. This is the Edinburgh and Dublin name of 
the London Pilula Hydrargyri CJiloridi Composita. The old excipient, treacle, 
is now replaced by castor oil; a matter of detail, long (Pharm. Journ., vol. vii. 
p. 551) advocated by pharmaceutists. The Dublin College did order castor oil 
to be used. It contains one grain of calomel in five grains of the mass. 
Pilula Cambogix Composita is according to the Edinburgh formula. It is 
about double the strength of the old London preparation. 
Pilula Colocyntliidis Composita. The London compound colocynth pill having 
gone back to its old (1836) position as an extract, its place is supplied by the 
Edinburgh preparation; a change recommended by Bell (Pharm. Journ., vol. 
xviii. p. 457). The Dublin preparation has suffered most by these changes ; its 
hard soap and treacle being omitted, and its proportion of scammony much in¬ 
creased. 
Pilula Colocyntliidis et Ilyoscyami. This also is an Edinburgh pill, of which 
a complaint has been registered (Med. Circular, vol. xxiv. p. 169) that it is 
“ always getting mouldy.” 
Pilula Ferri Carbonatis. This is the London Pilula Ferri Composita , the 
manufacture of carbonate of iron which went on inside that pill, having been 
