338  Elixirs  of  the  National  Formulary.  {^'j^Svt™' 
Curacao. — It  has  been  impossible  to  buy  oil  of  curacao  orange 
from  available  sources,  from  which  to  make  the  spirit  and  subse- 
quently this  elixir. 
One  of  the  large  volatile  oil  manufacturers  has  submitted  the 
following  letter  when  asked  to  expfain  what  was  formerly  sold  as 
oil  of  curacao  orange: 
"  Replying  to  your  inquiry  of  the  6th  inst,  we  fear  that  you  are 
chasing  a  rainbow.  Curacao  oil  of  orange  undoubtedly  is  to-day, 
and  in  our  opinion  always  has  been,  a  fiction,  at  least  in  so  far  as  its 
position  as  a  commercial  article  is  concerned.  The  oil  that  was 
formerly  brought  here  under  this  name  was  probably  nothing  more 
than  regular  bitter  orange  oil,  or  possibly  a  blend  of  bitter  and  sweet 
orange  toned  up  with  other  aromatics  to  give  it  character." 
Prof.  C.  Lewis  Diehl,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  National 
Formulary,  in  reply  to  this  letter,  has  stated  that  this  formula  was 
included  in  the  original  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Formulary,  out  of 
which  grew  the  N.F.,  and  that  probably  at  that  time  there  was  a 
genuine  oil  of  curacao  orange,  and  if  not,  the  men  of  that  time 
(1888)  were  using  the  best  information  available. 
He  states  that  he  has  often  discussed  the  subject  and  advocated 
many  years  ago  that  an  oil  of  bitter  orange  be  introduced  for  the 
present  oil  of  curacao  in  the  N.F. 
Lactate  of  Iron. — It  was  found  that  by  dissolving  the  potassium 
acetate  first  in  the  water  and  then  the  lactate  of  iron,  solution  was 
greatly  facilitated. 
Pyrophosphate  of  Iron,  Quinine  and  Strychnine. — The  addition 
of  talc  before  filtering  improves  the  appearance  of  the  elixir. 
Iron,  Quinine  and  Strychnine. — This  formula  is  satisfactory,  if  the 
tincture  of  citro-chloride  of  iron  has  been  made  in  accordance  with 
the  latest  issues  of  the  N.F.,  third  edition.  The  first  printing  of 
the  third  edition  called  for  410  grammes  of  sodium  citrate.  This 
was  shown  to  be  unsatisfactory,  and  it  has  been  increased  in  books 
more  recently  printed  to  425  grammes. 
Glycerinated  Gentian. — This  elixir  has  been  repeatedly  criticised 
for  the  presence  of  both  acetic  ether  and  solution  of  saccharin. 
The  formula  needs  revision. 
Aromatic  Glycyrrhiza. — This  preparation  is  somewhat  turbid  ;  the 
presence  of  both  a  fluidextract  and  volatile  oils  may  account  for 
this.    It  is  not  very  satisfactory  pharmaceutically. 
