RELATION OF THE BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA TO PHARMACOLOGY. G31 
superseded by manufacture outside it, and subsequent introduction as saccharated 
carbonate of iron. This most orthodox improvement was suggested by Daven¬ 
port (Pharm. Journ.,vol. xi. p. 484). 
Pilula Ferri Iodidi. This is a new pill. The process is that of Christison 
(Pharm. Journ., vol. iv. p. 79). 
_ Pilula Hydrargyri. This is the old pill made in the old way. Donovan, 
cited by Thomson (Pharm. Journ., vol. iv. p. 413), had stated that when made 
with oxide of mercury instead of metallic mercury, it was quite as efficacious; and 
Thomson himself had long thought that the efficacy of the old pill depended in 
great measure on the presence of a portion of oxide of mercury derived from 
oxidation of the metallic mercury, when in that fine state of division to which 
it is necessarily brought by long trituration with the confection of rose and 
liquorice. Tyson, an excellent therapeutist, as well as a good practical chemist, 
stated (Pharm. Journ., vol. i, p. 451) that the Pharmacopoeia blue pill was, 
under the best management, a very uncertain preparation. He made pilula 
hydrargyri with the protoxide, and communicated his formula to the 4 Pharma¬ 
ceutical Journal.’ It was as follows :— 
Pilula Hydrargyri Protoxidi. 
Hydrargyri Protoxidi 5j. 
Confectionis Rosse Gallic®, 5iij. 
Pulvis Florutn Anthemidis 5ss. M. s. a. et fiat Massa. 
Tyson says, 44 Here we have a preparation, with only half the quantity of mer¬ 
cury, far superior to, and of the same colour as the blue pill; always the same 
in effect, always certain, and made in a few minutes. I use the powdered 
chamomile instead of the liquorice powder, as it keeps better, and sits more 
pleasantly upon the stomach.” Tyson made his protoxide (black oxide) of mercury 
from calomel, also by an ingenious modification of the usual method. He says, 
“But the great secret that remains, is to procure the slate-coloured protoxide 
aqua calcis will not do, as it produces an ash-colour from a mixture of muriate 
of lime; liquor potass® alone will not do, for it produces a brownish-black 
powder, containing a portion of submuriate of mercury undecomposed, and which 
no addition of liq. potass® will act upon, but by the addition then of a small 
quantity of liq. ammoni® (as well as liq. potass®), the calomel is completely 
decomposed, and the slate-coloured protoxide immediately produced.” I have 
quoted these observations of Tyson, because I believe they contain the basis of a 
method of preparing a much better and more rational blue pill than the officinal 
article; I commend them to the notice of therapeutists. 
Pilula Opii. This is the Dublin Pilula Saponis Compositum ; it is also the 
same pill of the London College, with the omission of liquorice, and with lard 
instead of soft soap, as suggested by Boucher and Proctor (Pharm. Journ., 2nd 
ser., vol. i. p. 15). It also replaces the Edinburgh Pilula Opii sive Thebaic se, 
sulphate of potash and confection of roses being substituted by hard soap and 
water. 
Pilula Rhei Compcsita. The quantity of soap as compared with the amount 
in the London formula has been much increased, as suggested by Proctor (Pharm. 
Journ. 2nd ser., vol. i. p. 11). Oil of peppermint also replaces oil of carraway, 
as suggested by Southall (ibid., p. 12), who moreover expressed an opinion that 
the Dublin formula was preferable to that of the London College. The Dublin 
formula is, in fact, the one retained. It is slightly weaker than the London and 
Edinburgh varieties. 
Pilula Scillcc Composita. This preparation is still made with the squill in 
fine powder. Niblett (Pharm. Journ. vol. xii. p. 153) proposed to use an acetic 
extract of the squill, to obviate the trouble occasioned by the powder rapidly 
becoming unfit for dispensing purposes. Such a pill was, he said, highly ap¬ 
proved of by medical practitioners. The formula retained is that of the Dublin 
