PRACTICAL  NOTES  ON  PHARMACY. 
101 
uniformity  giving  one  far  inferior  to  what  might  have  been,  if  all 
were  qualified  to  practice  the  improvements  of  the  times.  If  a 
work  of  this  nature  be  not  practical  in  its  character,  it  is  useless 
as  a  standard.  As  a  standard,  it  should  be  followed  strictly  by 
those  who  are  unacquainted  with  better  formulae;  those  who  are 
familiar  with  improved  processes  are  at  liberty  to  employ  them  if 
the  resulting  preparations  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Pharmacopoeia. 
It  is  hoped  that  the  following  observations  may  prove  practically 
useful  to  some  of  the  readers  of  the  Journal,  some  of  whom  I  know 
have  met  with  difficulties  in  preparing  and  preserving  these  medi- 
cines. 
The  stability  of  syrups  depends  mainly  on  their  composition  and 
consistence,  the  temperature  and  the  amount  of  their  exposure  to 
the  air. 
The  composition  of  a  syrup  is  an  important  point,  when  consid- 
ered with  reference  to  its  stability  ;  to  secure  permanency  in  med- 
icated syrups,  it  would  be  better  to  admit  no  ingredients  except 
the  active  principle  of  the  drug  and  simple  syrup.  Syrup  of  pop- 
pies when  prepared  from  a  decoction  of  the  capsules  very  soon 
spoils,  whereas,  a  preparation  similar  in  medicinal  efficacy,  made 
by  dissolving  sulphate  of  morphia  in  simple  syrup,  keeps  for  an 
indefinite  length  of  time. 
But  while  in  the  instance  just  cited,  morphia  answers  well ;  there 
are  some  drugs  which,  even  if  it  were  desirable  to  exhibit  in  this 
form,  we  are  as  yet  either  unacquainted  with  their  active  princi- 
ples or  with  any  practicable  method  of  isolating  them,  as,  for  in- 
stance, rhubarb.  But  this  is  not  necessary  ;  it  will  answer  our 
purpose  if  we  exclude  from  syrups  these  substances  which  either 
induce,  or  are  particularly  liable  to  undergo  fermentation.  The 
substances  of  this  character  most  commonly  met  with  are  albu- 
men, starch,  gum,  mucilage,  pectin,  coloring  matter,  &c.  Some 
of  these  exist  in  all  roots,  barks,  &c. 
Ipecacuanha  contains  a  large  amount  of  gum,  starch  and  color- 
ing matter ;  senna,  albumen  and  mucilage,  &c;  squills,  gum,  &c; 
rhubarb,  starch  and  gum ;  ginger,  starch  and  gum  ;  senega,  gum, 
albumen,  pectin,  &c:  wild  cherry  bark,  starch,  &c. 
These  substances  impart  no  medicinal  property  to  syrups,  and 
their  presence  in  them  frequently  gives  rise  to  fermentation;  con- 
sequently, it  should  be  the  object  of  formulae  for  syrups  to  embody 
