June 10, 1871.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
1001 
Dates anlr Queries. 
'*** In order to facilitate reference, correspondents are 
requested to mark their answers in each case with the title 
and number of the query referred to. 
j\o notice can be taken of anonymous communications. 
All queries or answers should be accompanied by the name 
and address of the writer. 
[228.]—SYRUPUS TONICUS.—It was not till I read in 
a recent Journal Mr. Woolley's reply to query 228 that I 
was aware the name “ tonic syrup ” (originated by myself 
some five or six years since) had passed the limits of this 
town. As, however, it appears to have done so, I will tres¬ 
pass on 3 ’our space with a brief explanation of its origin and 
the formula for the same. 
About the time indicated above, a physician suggested to 
me that the formula for syr. feiri et quin re et strychniae 
phosph. might probably be altered with advantage, some of 
liis patients having complained of its acidity or extreme bit¬ 
terness, others of its tendency to change before they had 
taken the quantity prescribed. With this view I made 
several experiments, resulting in the adoption of the follow¬ 
ing formula:— 
E. Ferri Sulph. 5v 
Sodae Fhosph. 5v 
Sod® Acetat. 5j 
Quince Sulph. gr. 192 
Liq. Ammonice q. s. 
Acid. Sulph. Dil. q. s. 
Aquce Rest. q. s. 
Strychniae gr. vj 
Acid. Phosph. Dil. ^x 
Sacch. Alb. §xx 
Aq. Aurantii ^iv. 
Manipulate as in the original formula. 
The points of difference are, the use of sodee acet. with the 
Jjhosph. in precipitating the iron, diminution in the quantity 
of acid, phosph. and increase of sugar and addition of aq. 
aurantii. The proportions of iron, quinine and strychnine 
are the same as in Easton’s syrup. Put it became desirable 
fo distinguish between the two (many medical men adhering 
to the old form). The name tonic syrup seemed suitable and 
■short, in the same way that “chemical food” is used to indi¬ 
cate Parrish’s syrup. This syrup is more pleasant to take, 
and its keeping qualities enhanced, but I still find it desir¬ 
able to preserve it in small bottles (2 or 4 oz.), well stoppered, 
-quite full and in the dark.— Charles Stmes, York Place, 
Dirlcenhead. 
[236.]—BROMIDE OF POTASSIUM.—I am quite dis¬ 
posed to agree with the remarks made by Ed. Pdaem. 
Jourx. I have known cases of 5ss to 5is3 ordered fora 
dose.—W. C. H. 
BORAX AND BLACKBEETLES.—Two closets in dif¬ 
ferent rooms in my business premises were infested with this 
pest. Every likely remedy had been tried, including brush¬ 
ing over their haunts with a strong solution of corrosive sub¬ 
limate, but in vain. I accidentally saw from an American 
source that borax was a cure. I tried it by sprinkling it 
freely in these closets, and where formerly scores could have 
been seen at any time, not one can now be found, and I con¬ 
cluded they were poisoned. A few days since, however, find¬ 
ing some in a cask, I had them caught and put into a box 
with some borax. It did not kill them ; but, for my part, I 
am quite contented that, whether dead or alive, they have 
•quite disappeared.—H. C. B. 
[256.]—LIQUID COCHINEAL.—I should feel obliged 
by your asking for a recipe for liquid cochineal?—Ton Pedx 
Pehwith. 
[* # * Several formulae have been given in the Journal, 
though it appears there is still a want of one for a prepara¬ 
tion that will keep well.—E d. Pharh. Journ.] 
[257.]—GINGER BEER POWDER.— U. B. would be 
glad of a formula for making ginger beer powder, sufficient 
for two gallons in a packet. 
[258.]—ESSENTIAL OILS OF MYRRH AND WAX. 
—Can any of your readers inform me, where in London or 
elsewhere, I can meet with the essential oils of myrrh and 
wax ? I have tried everywhere, but without success.—A. S. 
[*»* We are informed that Messrs. Trepte and Ferko, of 
Leipzig, in their long list of essential oils, offer “myrrhenol 
acht.” By oil of wax, it is presumed that the empvreumatic 
oil of w r ax, the preparation of which is described in many old 
books (as Ph. Lond. 1721), is intended, but it is not a thing 
to be found in the shops.— Ed. Pharai. Journ.]. 
[259.]—DRYTNG SALVE.—Can any one give me a good 
form for a drying salve for cows ?—UnguEntum. 
[*** Probably the information would be found in a work 
on veterinary pharmacy.—E d. Pharm. Joure.] 
[260.]—PASTILLES GUIMAUVE3.—Z. and Y. is de¬ 
sirous of obtaining a formula for preparing pastilles gui- 
mauves. 
LOCAL APPLICATIONS IN SMALL-POX.—At a re¬ 
cent meeting of the Societe de Therapeutique, M. Deliou 
stated that the plan which he had found to succeed best was 
the application of a mixture of collodion and castor oil, with 
the addition of l-100th of bichloride of mercury.— Practi¬ 
tioner. 
GANTEINE FOR CLEANING XID GLOVES.— 
White Soap 250 parts 
Water 155 parts. 
Dissolve with heat, cool, and add— 
Eau de Jarelle, 165 parts 
Solution of Ammonia 10 parts. 
The whole to be ground together until a smooth paste is 
formed. A little of this is rubbed over the glove with a piece 
of flannel .—New York Druggists' Circular. 
VANILLA FLAVOUR.—A correspondent of the New 
York Druggists' Circular says that, having tried various 
methods of extracting all the virtue of the vanilla, he has 
found none to answer so well as the following:— 
Take Vanilla Beans 1 oz. 
White Sugar 1 oz. 
Triturate in an iron mortar until reduced to a pulpy mass, 
then pack in a conical glass percolator, and pour on it 8 oz. 
of neutral sweet spirits, heated by a water-bath in a lightly 
stoppered bottle to the temperature of 125° F. When this 
has passed, change the receptacle, and repeat the process 
with the same quantity of sweet spirits; lastly, mix the per¬ 
colates. 
DUTCH DROPS OR HAARLEM DROPS.—There is a 
considerable difference in the ingredients and quality of these 
long-celebrated drops, but the most common preparation, per¬ 
haps, is according to the following formula:— 
Take Balsam of Turpentine 2 oz. 
Oil of Turpentine 10 oz. 
Mix. The genuine drops are the residuum of the rectification 
of oil of turpentine .—New York Druggists' Circular. 
PRESERVATION OF ERGOT.—Ergot is injured from 
being eaten by a minute insect of the Acarus genus, which 
appears to have a liking for damaged rye, among, perhaps, 
many other things to it not less palatable.. As it has an 
aversion, however, to many pungent things, it may be kept 
away by putting in the vessel that contans the ergot a few 
drops of the oil of cloves, or a few cloves themselves, or car¬ 
damom seeds or camphor. If well dried before corking up, 
ergot may in this manner be preserved for several years.— 
New York Druggists' Circular. 
UTILIZATION OF RESIDUE IN MAKING TINC¬ 
TURE OF MYRRH.—Mr. E. B. Shuttleworth, the editor 
of the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal, having noticed 
the large amount of residue in making tincture of myrrh 
according to the British Pharmacopoeia, was induced to 
attempt to utilize it. From fifty-two pounds of the residue 
of percolation, dissolved in boiling water, strained, and al¬ 
lowed to deposit, he obtained twelve gallons of mucilage, 
forming an excellent substitute for paste, and possessing un¬ 
limited keeping qualities. Although scarcely so adhesive as 
mucilage of gum arabic, this latter property may be obtained 
by the addition of a little molasses. 
