PRACTICAL  NOTES  ON  PHARMACY. 
105 
and  displaces  much  more  readily  than  either  the  menstruum 
ordered  for  these  syrups,  or  diluted  alcohol.  I  would  recommend, 
therefore,  that  these  syrups  be  prepared  in  the  manner  suggested 
for  syrup  of  ipecacuanha  ;  by  first  preparing  alcoholic  fluid  extracts 
(from  the  drugs  in  coarse  powder,)  arid  adding  them  to  simple 
syrup  as  above  described. 
Syrup  of  Senna  is  ordered  in  the  Pharmacopoeia  to  be  prepared 
by  digesting  the  senna,  etc.  in  the  water  with  a  gentle  heat,  ("  a 
temperature  between  90  and  100  degrees,")  and  then,  after  strain- 
ing, a  syrup  is  to  be  made.  As  thus  prepared,  it  will  certainly 
contain  mucilage  and  most  probably  albumen;  the  latter,  however, 
may  be  removed  by  boiling  and  straining,  but  then  the  mucilage  is 
left  and  it  soon  ferments.  The  remedy  is  the  same  as  for  the  syrup 
above  described. 
Syrups  of  Ginger,  Tolu,  and  Orange  peeU — Syrups  of  ginger  and 
tolu,  as  now  prepared  by  the  pharmacopoeial  formula?,  keep  very 
well,  (though  the  ginger,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  would  not  be  so 
permanent  if  the  menstruum  used  for  preparing  the  tincture  were 
not  alcohol,  which  does  not  dissolve  the  gum  of  the  root,)  and 
although  these  syrups  are  pleasant  and  efficient,  they  are  not 
handsome  preparations.  For  the  apothecary  who  wishes  them  to 
be  not  only  good  medicines  but  of  handsome  appearance,  the  fol- 
lowing method  will  answer  : 
Take  of  Tincture  of  tolu,  1|  fluid  ounces. 
Sugar,  2J  lbs.  (troy.) 
Water,  1  pint. 
Mix  the  tincture  with  1  lb.  of  sugar  in  a  shallow  dish,  and 
evaporate  the  alcohol  with  the  aid  of  a  gentle  heat,  (or  allow  it  to 
evaporate  spontaneously,)  add  the  remainder  of  the  sugar,  and  dis- 
solve it  in  12  ounces  of  the  water ;  with  the  remaining  4  ounces 
of  water,  beat  up  the  white  of  one  egg,  add  it  to  the  syrup,  boil 
for  one  or  two  minutes,  and  strain  through  a  felt  or  Canton  flannel 
bag.  In  this  manner  a  beautifully  clear  syrup  is  obtained,  which 
is  highly  charged  with  the  properties  and  aroma  of  tolu. 
In  the  same  manner,  (but  using,  of  course,  the  proper  proportions 
of  tincture,  etc.,)  prepare  syrup  of  ginger. 
As  before  mentioned,  syrup  of  ipecacuanha  may  be  elegantly 
prepared  in  this  manner,  using  the  fluid  extract  of  that  drug. 
Syrup  of  orange  peel,  which,  as  ordinarily  prepared,  is  a  very 
