PREPARATIONS OF TI1E BillTlSH PHARMACOPEIA. 
399 
liniment, and the analogous one of Belladonna, are too strong. Twenty ounces 
of spirit will hardly exhaust twenty ounces of the root. Why not have left it 
at Fleming’s strength? Liniment. Ammonia , instead of being one to two, is now 
one to three, which proportions mix more thoroughly. Liniment. Camph. Co. has 
now five ounces of Liquor Ammonise in the pint instead of three ounces, and 
the English Oil of Lavender is distinctly ordered. Surely in this case, as well as 
with Rosemary in Liniment. Saponis, we might have the option of using foreign oil. 
Liniment. Cantharidis , another new liniment, is a blistering liquid, very much 
stronger than the old Acetum, which it supersedes. It is made with ether, with 
a fifth of acetic acid. Liniment. Chloroformi is ordered with camphorated oil instead 
of olive, as we have been accustomed to. Liniment. Iodi is a concentrated tincture 
of Iodine introduced as a liniment, to prevent confusion with the ordinary tinc¬ 
ture which has been weakened, and may be supposed as now meant only for in¬ 
ternal use. Liniment. Iodi has about one hundred and ten grains of iodine, 
and somewhat less than half that quantity of iodide of potassium in each ounce, 
and is four or five times stronger than our Edinburgh tincture. Liniment. Opii 
is the same as our old Tinct. Saponis et Opii, but now made directly by mixing 
Tinct. Opii and Liniment. Saponis in equal proportions. This is double the 
strength of the late London formula. Liniment. Saponis is left substantially as 
it was in the London formula, viz. with one-tenth part of water. It is essen¬ 
tial for the permanence of this liniment, that the temperature at which the solu¬ 
tion of the soap is effected be not above 70°, as indicated in the formula, because, 
if that point be passed, it involves the subsequent gelatinization of the soap at 
low temperatures. 
Liquor Ammonise Acetatis has five or six times the strength of the former, a 
fact which must be carefully kept in mind. One cannot help thinking it a pity 
we have not a Liquor Dilutus to represent the familiar Mindererus Spirit, in the 
same way as we have a Liquor Plumbi Dilutus. In this preparation we have 
the caustic ammonia employed instead of the carbonate, by which means we get 
rid of the troublesome carbonic acid. Liquor Chlori (quondam Aq. Chlorinei) 
is to be prepared by generating the gas from manganese and hydrochloric acid. 
No doubt this is the scientific plan, and yields the pure solution ; yet many of us 
must regret not being allowed as heretofore to prepare it readily and easily by 
merely shaking together the red oxide of lead, chloride of sodium, and sulphuric 
acid, the appliances necessary for the other . process being out of the reach of 
most of us, and the liquor, from its proneness to spoil, being hardly a market¬ 
able article. Liq. Morphia Ilydrochloratis is now four grains to the ounce in¬ 
stead of four and a half, being exactly half the London strength, # and has the 
addition of a little hydrochloric acid, which prevents the crystalline deposit on 
the inside of the bottle, and the tinge of colour in the solution which took place 
after a short time under the old formula. Liquor Potassa is ordered to be made 
from slaked lime, with the corresponding increase in quantity, instead of lime- 
shell, which alteration is certainly an improvement. 
Mistura Cretse is to be made with cinnamon water instead of the spirit; also an 
improvement. In this, as in Mist. Ferri Co., the proportions ordered are for 
eight ounces, a much more convenient quantity than twenty or forty. 
Mucilag. Acacia has two ounces of gum to three ounces of water, instead of 
one to two, forming a preparation better for all purposes. 
Pilula Calomel. Comp. Instead of treacle we have castor oil as an excipient, 
which will be found to make them better, and prevent their becoming so un¬ 
sightly as before. Pil. Camhog. Co., Pil. Coloc. Co., Pil. Coloc. et Hyoscyami 
have Barbadoes aloes substituted for Socotrine. Pil. Opii. Here we have the 
London Pil. Saponis et Opii, containing one grain opium and four grains soap, 
introduced. In some cases this may be a desirable change, but I think an alte¬ 
ration to the small pills containing one grain of the powdered opium alone, in 
