EDITORIAL, 
293 
few innovations of this kind in the new Pharmacopoeia, are backed by 
good reasons, and some names which might have been changed were left as be- 
fore, rather than risk the disturbance caused in the names of preparations. 
The test directions appended to chemical drugs, have been extended and 
improved. Apothecaries would do well to apply them occasionally, to the 
articles they purchase. The note to Chlorinated lime, points out an easy 
method of determining its strength, which is required to be 25 per cent, of 
chlorine as a minimum. 
Preparations. — Aceta. — Diluted acetic acid is directed in lieu of distilled 
vinegar, in the medicated vinegars, with the option of using the latter when 
more convenient, and the alcohol previously added, is now omitted as of no 
use. 
Acida. — Gallic acid is new — The process by atmospheric action, on 
moistened powdered nut galls, is adopted. The rejection of the first liquid 
by expression is an improvement, enabling the operator to avoid the color- 
ing and gummy matters (to a great extent) which tend to embarrass the 
crystallization of the acid. One very important oversight has been made in this 
formula, which we desire to direct attention to ; it is in using the ordinary 
instead of the purified animal charcoal. The former nearly always contains 
so much iron as to form an inky compound with the gallic acid. Acidum 
Hydrocyanicum Dilutum, is now the officinal name for Prussic acid. Dilu- 
ted Nitric Acid is now made with one part by measure of Nitric Acid, 1.42 
to six parts of water. Formerly it was one to nine, and as little regard has 
been heretofore had to the strength of the acid used, there is every proba- 
bility, that this preparation will be stronger in practice than it has previous- 
ly been, although the same in theory. Elixir of vitriol is now made without 
the useless delay required by the old formula. 
Etherea. — JEther and Spiritus AEtheris Compositus } are the new names for 
sulphuric ether, and Hoffman's anodyne. Chloroform is classed as an ether, 
and a practical process, based on Soubeiran's, is given for its preparation. 
Collodionis also found with the ethers. We have tried this formula several 
times, and have never failed in obtaining a soluble gun cotton, and an adhe- 
sive solution. In general three minutes will be found sufficient for the due 
impregnation of the cotton, if it is properly brought in contact with the acid 
mixture. 
Aqujs Medicate. — Aqua Amygdala? Amarce, or bitter almond water, is made 
by dissolving 16 minims, (about 32 drops) of oil of bitter almonds in two 
pints of water, by the aid of a drachm of carbonate of magnesia. Apotheca- 
ries and druggists should carefully distinguish this preparation from the Bitter 
Almond Water of the foreign Pharmacopoeias, which is a saturated solution of 
the oil containing a larger per centage of prussic acid. The proportion of 
carbonate of magnesia in the formulae for the medicated waters, is very 
properly increased, promoting more effectually the solution of the oils and 
camphor in water. 
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