ON  SYRUP  OF  TAR.  555 
ON  SYRUP  OF  TAR. 
By  Thomas  A.  Lancaster. 
A  reliable  process  for  preparing  syrup  of  tar  has  long  been  a 
desideratum. 
The  preparation  now  in  use,  "  Tar  Beer,"  is  an  excellent  one 
when  freshly  prepared,  but  by  keeping  is  more  or  less  subject  to 
decompose  and  become  unpleasant  and  disagreeable  to  the  taste, 
acquiring  a  rank  odor  and  partially  losing  its  medicinal  pro- 
perties. 
This  consideration  led  me  to  compile  a  formula  as  follows : — 
Tincturae  Picis  Liquidae,  gij. 
Magnesia  Garbonatis,  ^j.  or  q.  s. 
Sacchari  Albi,  ibj.  av. 
Aquae  Fontanae,  a  sufficient  quantity. 
Rub  the  tincture  first  thoroughly  with  the  magnesia,  and  then 
add  half  a  pint  of  the  water  gradually,  transfer  to  a  filter,  and 
when  the  liquid  ceases  to  pass  add  more  water  till  it  measures 
half  a  pint ;  then  to  the  filtered  liquid  add  the  sugar,  and  by 
means  of  a  gentle  heat  convert  it  into  a  syrup. 
By  the  above  means  the  pitch  contained  in  the  tincture  is  re- 
tained in  the  filter  along  with  the  magnesia,  whilst  the  filtrate 
affords  a  syrup,  by  the  addition  of  sugar,  of  a  beautiful  rich  straw 
color,  being  agreeable  and  palatable  in  its  taste  and  advantage- 
ously adapted  to  the  most  severe  cases  of  chronic,  catarrhal  and 
bronchial  affections. 
In  offering  this  formula  to  pharmaceutists  it  is  with  a  hope 
that  it  may  induce  those  having  a  demand  for  a  reliable  article 
to  prepare  it  for  themselves,  and  to  attempt  further  improve- 
ments in  the  mode  of  preparation,  as  it  will  be  seen  to  possess 
the  merit  of  cheapness,  and  may  be  accomplished  without  un- 
necessary trouble. 
The  essence  or  tincture  of  tar  as  found  in  the  shops  was  of 
no  definite  strength,  but  according  to  various  samples  was  found 
of  the  following  average  :  two  ounces  of  tar  to  one  pint  of  rec- 
tified alcohol. 
Philadelphia,  Oct  12th,  1859. 
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