194 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
would be better to prescribe the alkali in definite quantities, 
and to use them in such proportions that they will certainly 
be neutralized; for an excess renders the preparation very 
unpleasant, and we are informed that if an excess of either the 
acid or the alkali exists, the former would be much preferred. 
We would recommend the addition of sugar in every instance 
where the condition of the patient does not contra-indicate its 
use; of course the physician only can judge of this The fol- 
lowing form is essentially the same as that officinal in some of 
the foreign Pharmacopoeias for making the simple Neutral 
Mixture, and is probably the best. 
{fe. Sue. Limon. recent. giij. 
Potassae carb. 3ij. 
Misce et adde, 
Aquae fluvial. ^iij. 
Sacchar. alb. ^ss. 
By following this prescription the alkali will always be 
saturated, and should there be an excess of the acid, no evil 
consequences can arise from it. There is also an officinal Com- 
pound Neutral Mixture which differs from the simple, principal- 
ly in containing the antimonii et potassae tartras. Should the 
physician wish to add either this salt or the spiritus nitri 
dulcis, it would be an easy matter to give directions to that 
effect. To those who prefer using the citrate of potassa, we 
would recommend the following form: 
ft. Potassae citrat. 3iv. 
Aquae fluvial. gvi. 
Liqua. Dein adde 
Sacchar. alb. gss. 
Acaciae gummi pulv. 
01. Limonis, gtt. iij. 
Misce. 
The object in adding the gum, is, to make the preparation 
resemble, as much as possible, that made from fresh lemon juice, 
the mucilage in which contributes much to render it pleasant. 
